HISTORY 

OF 

Parke and Vermillion Counties 

Indiana 



With Historical Sketches o( Representative Citizens and 
Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families 



ILLUSTRATED 



1913 
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY 

INDIANAPOLIS. INDIANA 






F53 



r DEDICATION. 

This Work is respectfully dedicated to 

THE PIONEERS, 

long since departed. May the memory of those who laid down their burdens 

by the wayside ever be fragrant as the breath of summer 

flowers, for their toils and sacrifices have made 

Parke and Vennillion counties a garden 

of sunshine and delights. 



11 



D 



PREFACE 

All life and achievement is evolution; present wisdom comes from past 
experience, and present commercial prosperity has come only from past exer- 
tion and suffering. The deetls and motives of the men wlio ha\e i;(jne before 
have been instrumental in shaping the destinies of later communities and 
states. The development of a new country was at once a task and a privi- 
lege. It required great courage, sacrifice and privation. Compare the pres- 
ent conditions of the people of Parke and X'ermillion counties, Indiana, with 
what they were one hundred years ago. From a trackless wilderness and 
virgin land, it has come to be a center of prosperity and civilization, with mil- 
lions of wealth, systems of railways, grand educational institutions, splendid 
industries and immense agricultural and mineral productions. Can any think- 
ing person be insensible to the fascination of the study which discloses the 
aspirations and efforts of the early pioneers who so strongly laid the founda- 
tion upon which has been reared the magnificent prosperity of later days? 
To perpetuate the story of these people and to trace and record the social, 
political and industrial progress of the community from its first inception 
is the function of the local historian. A sincere purpose to preserve facts 
and personal memoirs that are deserving of perpetuation, and which unite 
the present to the past, is the motive of the present publication. The work 
has been in the hands of able writers, who have, after much patient study 
and research, produced here the most complete biographical memoirs of 
Parke and Vermillion counties ever offered to the public. A specially valuable 
and interesting department is that devoted to the sketches of representative 
citizens of this county whose records deserve preservation because of their 
worth, effort and accomplishment. The publishers desire to extend their 
thanks to the gentlemen who have so faithfully labored to this end. Thanks 
are also due to the citizens of Parke and A'ermillion counties for the uniform 
kindness with which they have regarded this undertaking and for their many 
services rendered in the gaining of necessary information. 

In placing the "History of Parke and \'ermillion Counties, Indiana," 
before the citizens, the ])ublisliers can conscientiously claim that they 
have carried out the ])Ian as outlined in the prospectus. Every biographi- 
cal sketch in the work has been submitted to the party interested, for correc- 
tion, and therefore any error of fact, if there be any, is solely due to the 
person for whom the sketch was prepared. Confident that our efforts to 
please will fully meet the approbation of the public, we are, 

Respectfully, 

THE PUBLISHERS. 



CONTENTS 



PARKE COUNTY. 

CHAPTEK I— EARLY INDIANA HISTORY 26 

Father Marquette — The Illiiuiis Indians — Voyage ot Joliet — Fernando de Soto 
and His Cavaliers — Settlement of Spanish in Florida — Retraeinj? of the Steps 
of Karly Kxplorors — Reaches Wisconsin — The I'ortacre — Meeting of the In- 
dians — Kasbaskia Discovered— LaSalle's Explorations — Father Hennejiin — 
Building of Fort Miamis — Termination of War with England — The Nortliwesi 
Territory — Act of Congress Making a Division Including Indiana, May 7, ITSo. 

CHAPTER II— INDIAN OCCCPANCY AND HARRISONS TRAIL 46 

The A'arious Indian Tribes — Delawares — Pot tawa torn ies — Miamis — Description 
of Tribes and the Country — A Transformation — Ceology of Parko County — 
Harrison's Trail. 

CHAPTER III— PIONEER SETTLEMENT OF PARKE COUNTY 54 

An Early-day Description of the County — Concerning the First Settler — Set- 
tlement of Jiiuies Dot.v — Those Who Came in 1S22 — Later Settlements — New 
Discovery — Character of the Pioneers. 

CHAPTER IV— ORCANIZATION AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT 60 

.\ct of Org.iuization of the County — County-soat Locating Conunittee — Rivalry 
for Seat of .Tustice — Temporary County Se:its — County Government — .\gents 
Sell Town Lois — Various Court Hou.ses and .Tails — Erection of I'resent County 
Buildings — Contents of Box in Corner-stone — Finances — Asse.ssed Valnalion 
by Townships — Tlie .\syliun for the Poor — Early Court Indictments. 

CHAPTER V— COUNTY AND OTHER OFFICIALS 67 

State Representatives — Clerks — Sheriffs — Recorders — Auditors — Treasurers — 
Coroners — .\ ssessors — Surveyors — Judges — Common Plea s .Tudgos — Proba te 
Judges — Present Bar of Parke County — Court Officers in Ittll'. 

CHAPTER VIMILITARY HISTORY OF PARKE COUNTY 72 

Cau.ses of the Civil War — Lincoln's First Call for Men — First Enrollment at 
Rockville — List of All Companies and Regiments from Parke County — Hundred- 
day Men and Veterans — Cavalry — Artillery — Infantry — McCune Cadets — Na- 
tional Gn.ird— An Old Mexican War Soldier— The W.'ir with Spain. 

CHAPTER VII— PARKE COUNTY'S RELKiKMS SOCIETIES ST 

Pnitestant and Catholic Elements in Pioneer D.ays — Baptists — Presbyteri.ans — 
United Presbyterians — Christian Churches — The Methodist Episcopal Demmi- 
Ination — African Methodist Episcopal — Lorenzo Dow at Rockvilli'^ -United 
Brethren — Lutherans — Roman Catholic— Society of Friends— Ilicksites-I'ni- 
versalists. 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VIII— CIVIC SOCIETIES IX I'ARKE COCXTY 111 

.Mnsonic Order — IiKleiipiideiit Onler of Odd Fi'Uows — D:ui,s:hters of Rehekiih — 
Kniirlits lit Pytlii.is — CimikI Aniiy of tlie Rcinililie. 

CHAPTER IX— NEWSPAPERS OE PARKE COUNTY 119 

First iiiul Later Xewspapers — The Whig Party Organs — "OllAe Branch." a 
Noted Publication — History of the "Tribune"' and the "Republic.in" of Today — 
Democratic and Independent Papers — Present Newspapers of the County. 

CHAPTElt X— IMPORTANT CRIMINAL CASES 123 

Cases Prior to the Civil War — Liberty Township Crimes — The Celebrated Beau- 
champ Case — Killhig of Nillis Hart at Montezuma — Killing of Mr.s. Vollmer of 
Rockvillt! — Killing of Oscar P. Lill— Terrible Deed by Insane Man— Sheriff Mull. 
With His Deputy and Others Killed. 

(JHAPTKR XI— POLITICAL HISTORY AND ELECTION RETURNS 1.30 

Democrats and Whigs Pitted Against Each Other — Trouble Over the Canal — 
The National Roail Difficulty — Hard Times Come on — Election Returns — 
Presidential Votes Since Lincoln. 

CHAPTER XII— EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF PARKE COUNTY 135 

CHAPTER XIII— AGRICULTURE AND MINING 142 

Products of County a Third of a Century Ago — Coal Mined — Turnpike and 
Gravel Roads — Agricultural Societies at Montezuma, Rockville, Bridgeton and 
Bloomiugdale. 

CHAPTER XIV— MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS -_ 146 

Local Railroad History — Present Railroad Mileage in Parke County — Coal Min- 
ing — lOarly Mines — Present Operations and Output — Accidents — Prices — Coni- 
p.-inies Oiierating — Banking History of Parke County — B.-ink Building and (»ld 
National Hall — Its Burning and the New Building — Present BanJvS — Village 
Plats — Population of County — Witness Trees — Records Burned — Legal E.\ecu- 
tions — Taxation List of 1S33 — Soldiers" Reunion — Market Quotations — Days of 
Public Mourning in Parke County. 

CHAPTER XV— STATE TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITAL 160 

Establishment by Legislative Act — Location and Legislative Connnission-p 
Buildings — Mode of Treatment — Results. 

CHAPTER XVI— TOWN OF ROCKVILLE ' 164 

Donation of Lauds to County — First Settlers on Plat — Wallace Ray, the Pioneer 
Hotel Keeper and Postmaster — Saw-mills and Factories — Potteo' — Woolen 
.Milks — Destructive Fires — Poor Fire-lighting Apparatus — Opera Hou.ses — lucoi'- 
poration of Town — Water Works and Lighting Plant — \"olunterr Fire Comi)any 
— Industries — Advent of the Colored People — Cemetery. 

CHAPTER XVII— ADAMS TOWNSHIP 172 

Early Settlers — Early Hardships — A Noteworthy Incident —Development and 
Present Condition of the Town-shiji — Assessed Valuation — Population in I'.llO. 

CHAPTER XVIII— FLORIDA TOWNSHIP 176 

Location — Old Can.il — Population — Valuation at Present — Name of Town.ship — 
Early Settlers — Villages — Roseville — Numa — Clinton Lock — Rosedale— JessuiJ — 
West Atherton — Coxville. 



/ 
/ 



CONTENTS. 

CHAl'TKi; XIX— CUKKNE TOWXSIlir IS! 

I.oi'.itiou and Topogmiihy — IJnilroMfls — I'oimlatioii — Valuatifm of Property — In- 
ilian Days and Wild (Jaiiie — Karly Scttleiiieut — Mills — Villap:t's of I'aikville — 

lyiciimr SI ills. 

CHAl'TKK XX -llOWAItL) TOWNSHU" 1.S5 

P.oiuidaries — Tii|Mii;ra|iliy — Xaiiiini; of Townsliii) — Karly Si'ltlciuciil — I'ioiu'er 
.Millini; — I're.sent Conditions — I'oiiiilation of llic Towiisliiii. 

CH.\l'TKlt XXI— JACKSON Tl iWXSlIir 1.S7 

Xaniing of Towusliiii — (;(!o;,'iaiihy and Topogi-apliy — First Settlors — Early Sur- 
veyors — First Hirths — Assessed \'a Illation --To] ml, -it ion- -\'ill:i?;i's Manstii'ld — 
Lena. 

CHAPTFU XXI I— LIBERTY TOWNSHIP 1!)1 

Locatiou — Streams — Population — Asses.sed Valuation — I'ioueer Settlers — Rela- 
tions with the Indians — Old Tauyard — First Toaoliei' — Earl.\ Priies — Pioneer 
Church — Early Saw-mill — Old Grare-yard — Indian Remains — Villages — Lodi- 
ville — Old Westport — Sylvania — Tangier. 

CHAPTER XXIII— PEXN TOWNSHIP 195 

Size and Locatiou — Assessed Valuation — Population — ^Soil and I'roducts — Gravel 
Roads — The Quakers — First Pioneers — ^'illages — Annapolis — Bloouiingdale 
(Bloomfield) — The Academy — Early Industries — Cloth-making — Prices for 
Spinning and Weaving — The Old Fulling Mill — First Saw-mill and <.;rist-nnll — 
A I'ioueer Foundry — T*lie Old Cast Plows — Flat-boat Building. 

CHAPTER XXIV— RESERVE TOWNSHIP 201 

Name — Boundary — Large Farms — Fine Timber-land — Population — Assessed Val- 
uation — Early Settlement — Indians — Farm Implements I'sed by the Pioneers — 
Deer Pleutiful— Flat-boat Building — First Schools — First Death— First Wed- 
ding — Towns and A'illages — Montezuma — Colma — Canal and Railroad Days — 
Population — Assessed Valuation — Railroad Shops — Old Flouring Mill — Business 
Interests of 1912 — Corporation History — Water and Light Plants. 

CHAPTER XXV— RACCOON TOWNSHIP 208 

Big and Little Raccoon as Known to Indians — Great Forests — Reclaimed J>ands 
— Early Settlement — Milling — Villages — Catliu — Bridgeton — Diamond - Early 
Com Crackers and Mills — Milk Sickness — Population — Assessed Valuation. 

CHAl'TER XXVI— SI(;AR CREEK TOWNSHIP 213 

Area — Streams — Assessed "\'aluation — Population — First Settlement — Jlilling In- 
terests — First Meeting-house — Public Roads — Russell Postoffice — Killing of Old 
Johnnie Green, the Indian Chief. 

CHAPTER XXVII— rXION TOWNSHIP 216 

Boundaries — Streams — Resources — The Natural Bridge — I'opulatiou — Property 
Valuations — The Pioneers — Indian Trail — Drunkenness Among the Indians — 
Pioneer Martin- Laud i;ntries — Steam aud Water Milling — Bellemore — New 
Discovery — North and Southampton — HoUandsburg^Public Roads — Cemeteries. 

CHAPTER XXVIII— WABASH TOWNSHIP 220 

Location — Boundary — Topography — First Jlills — Early Settlers and Later Pio- 
neers — Mecca Saw-mill — Population — Assessed ViiluUtion— lirsf School House 
— Flat-boat Building — "Never-built" Railroads — I'resent Railroads — Wabash & 
Erie Canal. 



CONTENTS. 

CHAI'TEi; XXIX— WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 22S 

Population — ^■i\luations — First Settlers — Roaring Creek Settlement — First Or- 
chards — Schools — Prcsliyleriau CUurob — The "Alniislity's P.nll-iln2" — First 
Deaths — lioseville Mills — Nyesville — Judson — Lodires. 



VERMILLION COUXTY. 

CHAPTER I~NATI"RAL FEATIItES OF VERMILLION COUNTY 227 

Siiiuificanc-e of Nanje — Geographical Situation — The Beautiful Wabash and 
Other Streams — Geological Formation- -Soil. Streams, Springs — Mineral Wealth 
— Concerning the Forests — Clays of the County. 

CHAPTER II— PREHISTORIC AND INDIAN RACES 235 

The Mound Builders — Implements and Relies Foimd — Buryinis Grounds — Find- 
ing of Skeletons — Indian Occupancy of County — The Miamls. Kick.ipoos. Potta- 
watomies — French Missiouaries — First Trading Posts — The Rrouillets — .Toseiih 
CoUett. Sr. — General Harri-son's March to Tippecanoe — Murder of Sc-Seeji — 
Militai-y .Tournal. 

CHAPTER III— THE FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENT 246 

John Vannest and William Bales — Narrow Escape from Death of Jlrs. Vannest 
— Great Slaughter of Wild Animals. 

CHAPTER IV— ORGANIZATION AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT 249 

Size and Boundary — Original Organization — Acts Creating the County — County 
Government — Transcript of Early Records — First Jury — Court Houses and .Tails 
— Present County Buildings — Coimty Asylum for the Poor — Robbery of the 
County Treasur.v — Assessed Valuation by Precincts — Funds — Receiiits and Dis- 
bursements. 

CHAPTER V— CdfNTV AND OTHER OFFICIALS 262 

Sheriffs — Recorders — Clerks — Treasurers — Auditors — Surveyors — Coroners — As- 
sociate Judges — I'robate Judges. 

CHAPTER VI— MILITARY HISTORY OF VER.MILLION COUNTY., 268 

Its Part in the Civil War — Some of the Causes of the War — Firing on Fort .'<nm- 
ter — Addres,s by Captain Owen — History of the Regiments and Companies from 
A'ermillion County — Bounties and Relief Funds. 

CHAPTER VII^EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY 2S9 

Territorial I'rovisions for Education — Act of 1S16 — Donations of I^ands for 
Schools and Universities — School Houses a Quarter of a Centncy Ago — First 
Schools and School Houses — Educational Advancement — Present Standing of 
Schools — Teachers, Wages and Apportionments by Townships in 1912 — School 
Enumeration — Consolidated Schools. 

CH.APTER VIII (TIIRCIIES OF VERMILLION COUNTY 293 

Presbyterian — I'nitcd Brethren — ilethodist Episcopal — Baptists — Society of 
Friends — Universalists — Roman Catholics — Christians — United Brethren Union 
— AfMcaa Methodist Episcopal. 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IX— FKATKKXAI. SOCIETIES IN VERMILLION COUNTY 307 

Free iind At-ceiited iltisons — Indepeudent Order of Odd Fellows — Knights of 
Pythias. 

CHAPTER X— VERMILLIO.V COl'XTY .VTTORNEYS 312 

ParagraiJhs Conocraing the Earlier and Pre.sent Members of the Vermillion 
County Bar — Attorneys of 1912. 

CHAPTER XI— VERMILLION COUNTY PHYSICIANS 318 

Pioneer Medical Practice — First Physicians to Ixicate Here — County Medical 
Societies, Past and Present — A Blind Physician — Doctor Keyes. 

CHAPTER XII— NEWSPAPERS OF VERMILLION COUNTY 325 

First and Subsequent Papers — The News- Letter. Hoosier State, Argus, Clintou- 
ian. Times, Dana News — The Old Olive Branch — The Press, Past and Present, 
at Cayuga — Perrysvllle Banner — Quotations from Early Newspapers. 

CHAPTER XIII— BANKING IN VERMILLION COUNTY .332 

First Banking House in the County — Subsequent Banks — Present Banks of the 
County, with Some Statements. 

CHAPTER XIV— TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES 336 

Early Freighting — Boating — Canals — Steamboating on the Wabash, Ohio and 
Mississippi — The Clinton Wharf — Railroads of Vermillion County, Past and 
Present — Old Narrow Gauge Line — Electric Line — Present Mileage in County, 
by Townships — Public Gravel Roads. 

CHAPTER XV— AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS 343 

Early-day Implements — Crops — Agricultural Resources of the County — Farm 
Statistics — Land Prices — Old-time Farm Machinery — Fruit Crop.s — Agricultural 
Societies. 

CHAPTER XVI— THE COAL MINING INDI'STRY 348 

Its Beginning and Development — Coal-bearing Counties of Indiana — Production 
— Wages — State Mining Reports — Market Prices for Coal — \ Review of the 
Industry — Distribution of the Product — Vermillion Count.v Mines and Companies 
— Thickness of Seam and Depth from Surface — Fatal .\ecidont — Miners and 
Appliances — Men Employed — Powder Used — Bunsen Coal Co. and the Universal 
Mines — .\ Three-Million-Dollar Plant — Description of Mines and Buildings. 

CHAPTIOR XVII— MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS 355 

Old Whig Part.v — Borrowing a Cannon — Incidents Relating to the Civil-war 
Period — Presidential Vote for a Half Century — Market Quotations — Comparison 
with .1 Bushel of Whe.it — Tariff Hints — Original Vill;ige Plats — Cemeteries — 
Population — Count.r Societies — Temperance Organizations — Postottices — Postal 
Savings Banks — Large Damage Suits — Powder Mill Explosions — Destruction hy 
Dynamiters — A Brutal Outrage — Jlourning for Presidents. 

CHAPTER XVIII— CITY OF CLINTON - 376 

Name — Platting and First Development — Population Statistics — Industries — 
Postofflces — Churches and Lodges — Municipal History — Fire Depai'tmeut — 
Water Works — Electric Light — Board of Education — Present City Officials — 
Items of Interest — Prospecting for Natural Gas. 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTIOU XIX— TOWN OF NEWPORT 380 

The County Seat — First Buildings nml Stores — Ineorixiiatiou — Tbe Old Mill — 
Postoffice — Saloon Troubles — I'opulation — The Great Tile Works — "Woman's 
Crusade" — Business Interests in 1912. 

CHAPTEU XX— CLINTON TOWNSHIP 3!ll> 

Name — Fir.st Settler — Other I'ioneers — General Features — Jlininj; — .'iclinols and 
Onirches — Area and Population. 

CHAPTER XXI— EUGENE TOAVNSHIP .IIU 

Boundary and Location — Area and Population — Valuation — A Mound Discov- 
ery — Rare E.xhibition of Animal Nature — Early Settlement — Towns and Villages 
— First Newspaper in the County — Cayuga — Eugene — Railroads — Cayuga Mills 
— Grand Army of tbe Republic — Good Templars — Incorporation — Postoffice Safe 
Blown Open — Electric Ligliting — Present Business Interests — Colletfs Home f(ir 
Orphans. 

CHAPTER XXII— HELT TOWNSHIP 405 

Geograi)bical Situation — Area and Population — Assessed Valuation — Pioneer 
Settlement — First Scbuol — Old Davis Ferry — Famous Fox Hunts — Rural De- 
velopment — Gravel Highways — Modern Farm Improvements — Parcel Post — 
Towns and Villagtjs — Toronto — Jonestown (St. Bernice) — Hillsdale — Highland 
— Summit Grove-yDana— Situation — First BuildlngSp-Ipcorppration. 

CHAPTER XXIII— HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP 417 

Location — Boundaries — Population — Area^Assessed Valuation — Early Settlers 
— Perrysville — Village of Gessie — Rileysburg. 

CHAPTER XXIV— VERMILLION TOWNSHIP 423 

Situation — Name — Population — Valuation of Property — Area — Pioneer Settle- 
ment—Sketch of Hon. O. P. Davis— A Ix>ng-lost Daughter— Quaker Hill Settle- 
ment. 



HISTORICAL INDEX 



PARKE COUNTY. 



A 

Adams Township 172 

AfrifMii M. K. Cluircli 102 

Agi'ifulturiil Societies 143 

Agrictilture 142 

Annajjolis 196 

.^niiy Ford 52 

Assessed Valuation 65 

Assessors. County 70 

Assofiate Judges 70 

Auditors, Connty 65) 

Awful Experience 173 

B 

BankinK iu Parke County 149 

Baptist Churches 88 

Bar of Parke County 71 

Bellemore 218 

Bloomfield 196 

Bloominsdale 1 196 

Blooniingdale Academy 139 

Bridjreton 211 

Brooks, C.ipt, Andrew 55 

C 

Catholic Churches , 105 

Catlin 211 

Cemeter.v, Rockvillo 169 

Christian Churches 95 

Churches 87 

Circuit Judges ■ 70 

Civi<- Societies 111 

Civil War nays . 73 

Clerks, County 67 

Clinton Lock 179 

Coal MniiniEr Operations 147 



Coloma 207 

Colored People, Rockville 171 

Common Pleas Judges 71 

Coi-oners 69 

Counties, Formation of 44 

County Assessors 70 

County -Vuditors 69 

County Clerks 67 

County F.x.iminers 138 

County Funds 64 

County Coveniment 61 

County Otticials 67 

County Organization 60 

Count.v Recorders 68 

County Superintendents 138 

Count.v Surveyors 70 

County Treasurers 69 

Court House. First 61 

Court Houses 62 

Coxvllle 180 

Criminal Cases 123 

Crops .inil Weather 144 

D 

Daughters of Rebekah 116 

Days of Mourning 156 

De Soto. Fernando 27 

Diamond 212 

E 

Karly County Seats 61 

Early Indiana History 25 

Early I-aw Breakers 66 

Early Teachers' Qualitications 137 

Education in Parke Ci)unty 135 

Educational Statistics 140 

Eighty-lifth Regiment '. 81 



HISTORICAL INDEX. 



Election Returns 133 

Kleventh Cavalry 82 

Enlistments for War 73 

Examiners. County 138 

F 

I'niiii Iniiilements, Early 202 

I'm nil rroductious 142 

I'.inii Values 143 

Finances of Parke County 64 

l'"in's in Kockville 167 

First Court House 61 

First Jail 61 

First Schools 1.35 

First White Settler .55 

I'lorUla Township 176 

Formation of Counties 44 

Forty-third Rejiiment 77 

Fourteenth Regiment 74 

Free and Accepted Masons 111 

French Possession 43 

Friends' Bloomingdale Academy 139 

Friends' Church 106 

G 

Garfield's Death 157 

Gen. Harrison Trail 52 

(Jeology of Parke County 53 

(Jrand Army of the Republic 117 

Grant Alemorial Services 15S 

Greene Townshiji 181 

Guioii 184 

H 

Harrison Trail 52 

Hennepin, I.ouis 37 

Hi<-ksite Quakers 108 

Hobbs, Barnabas C. 1.37 

Hollandsburg 219 

Howard 194 

Howard Township 185 

Hundred-day Men 83 

I 

Implements, Early 202 

Important Criminal Cases 123 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows 114 

Indian Davs 182 



Indian Occupancy 46 

Indians. Removal of 44 

Industries of Rockville 170 

Insane Man's Deed. 128 

J 

.lack.son Township 187 

.Tail, the First 61 

.lessup ISO 

.Tdhnny (ireeu Kille<l 214 

.Judges 70 

.ludson 225 

K 

Killing of .lohnny Green 214 

Knights of P.vthias 116 

L 

La Salle's Explorations 35,37 

I.,aw Breakers 66 

Lawyers of Parke County 71 

Legal Executions 155 

Lena 190 

Liberty Township 191 

Lighting Plant, Rockville 169 

Lorenzo Dow 103 

Lost in the Forest 173 

Lutheran Churches 105 

Mc 

McCune Cadets 86 

.McKinle.v's Death 157 

M 

Mansfield 189 

.M.-irket <Motations 156 

.Marijuette, Father 25 

Masonic Order 111 

-Mecca 222 

-Methodist Episcopal Churches 97 

-Military History 72 

.Mills of Greene Township 183 

Mine Production 142 

Mines and Mining 142 

Miscellaneous Items 146 

Montezuma 304 



HISTORICAL INDEX. 



.Moiiiwl Builders 40 

M\iniciri;il History. KocIvVille lOS 

N 

XewspMiiers of Pariie County 110 

.Vinlli K.-itteiT 78 

Niuii.i ITO 

Nyesvilio 225 

O 

Odd Fellows 114 

Official Roster 67 

Organization of County 60 

P 

Tarke Couut)- Agricultural Society— 143 

Pa rice County Asylum 6.5 

I'arke County Finances 64 

Parke County Geology 53 

Parke County Lawyers 71 

Parke County Schools 135 

P.irke County Seminary 140 

Parkeville 184 

Peun (iuards 76 

■ Penn Township 195 

IMonet-r Settlement 54 

Political History 130 

Poor Asylum 66 

I'lipulatinn Statistics 154 

PostofUee, Rockvllle 168 

I'ri'sliytcrian Churches 00 

Present Banks 151 

Present Court House 63 

Present Jlethodist Churches 104 

Prices. Past and Present 156 

Probate .Indges 71 

Pythian Order 116 

R 

Raccoon 'ri>\vnslii|i 20S 

Railroads 146 

Rehekah Degree IHI 

Iti'iorders. Cuunty 68 

Iteiiirds Burned 155 

Keli^'ions Sm-ieties 87 

Kcnidval of Indians 44 

llcprcsentatives 67 

Reserve 'I'ownsliip 201 



Itockville 104 

Rockvllle Tribune 120 

Roman Catholic Churches 100 

Rose. Chauncey .55 

Roseville 178 

S 

.•^cliiMil Consdlid.-itlons 130 

School Statistics 140 

Schools of Parke County 135 

Second Court House 62 

Settlement of Parke County 54 

Settler, First White 55 

Seventy-eighth Regiment 80 

Sheriffs 68 

Society of Friends 106 

Soldiers' Reuuion 156 

State Representatives 67 

State Tuberculosis Hospital 160 

Sug.ir Creek Township 213 

Superintendents of Schools 1.38 

Surveyors. County 70 

Sylvania 104 

T 

Tangier 104 

Taxation List of 1833 155 

The Press 110 

Treasurers. County 60 

Tribune. Rockvllle 120 

Tuberculosis Hospital 160 

Twenty-first Regiment 75 

r 

I'nion Township 216 

Fnited Brethren Churches 105 

rnitetl Presbyterian (^liurches fM 

Cuiversalists 110 

V 

Valuations 65 

Vill.ige Plats 152 

W 

W.ib.ish Kitlemen 75 

W.ihash Township 220 

W.ir Questions "2 



HISTORICAL INDEX. 



\V:isliiiiL'liiii Tnw iisliip 22'.'. 

W:itt'r WorUs. ]!(i<-l<ville ir,!) 

\V:it('nn:iii I'Ji! 

Wi'st Atliertdii ISO 

Westport 104 



\Vil<l (;.-iiiie -182 

Wilni'ss Tiees 155 



Ydiiin; I'cc 



I!..:i(lini.' Circle 138 



VERMILLION COUNTY. 



A 

A Soulier's Diniy 28.", 

Acrenjje of Fiirnis 344 

.Vfrriciiltiirul Interests 343 

.\j;ri<-iiltnrMl Societies 34C 

Assessed \';ilu.itions 250 

AssociMte .^U(l^'es 2<17 

Asylum for the Poor 257 

Attorneys of the (Nuinty 312 

Auditors of County 205 

B 

I!:nikintr 3.32 

Baptist Chnrches 205 

Bar of Vermillion County 312 

r.linil rii.vsieian 322 

Bimnties 28-j 

Brnuillets 24(i 

r.i'utal Ontniu'e 3(10 

( • 

('.•illioli<- Clinnlies :!(M 

Cayuwi 4(11 

Cemeteries 3(14 

Christian Cliui'clies 3011 

Clinrc-h ill War I)ays .30:; 

Clinrches 2a3. 381. 401 

Ciriuit-rider. Karly 302 

City of Clinton 370 

Clays of the County 233 

Clerks of County 203 

Clinton 370 

Clinton Township 3!p(i 

Coal .Miniu;: Industry 34s 

Coal Prices 3.5o 

(^>llett Home for Onihans 402 

Connnissinners. First Count.v 252 

('(inuMissidners' Records 252 



Comparative Prices 361 

Coroners 260 

County .\nditors 265 

County Clerks 263 

Ciaint.v Commissioners. First 252 

County Finances 250 

Comity Funds 250 

County Oovernnient 240 

Comity Officials 202 

Counly Recorders 203 

County Seat Located 251 

Cotmty Societies 305 

County Surveyors 205 

County Treasurers 204 

County Ti-ensury Robbed 258 

Court Houses 255 

Crops 1 344 

D 

Dana 414 

DatiKliters of Rebekah 310 

Days of Mournins 370 

l>(>ath of President fJartield 371 

De.ith of President McKinley 372 

Iiiar.v of (Jen. Tipton 244 

Doctors 318 

D.viianiiters 368 

B 

Fdnc.itional History 280 

Kishteenth Itegiment 276 

Fifrhty-Hfth Regiment 280 

Flection Returns 358 

Flectric Line 340 

I'.numeration. School 292 

Ftisene. Town of 400 

lOuirene Township 304 

Fxplosiou. I'owder Mill .. ."'.07 



HISTORICAI. INDKX. 



F 

Palrview Park 393 

Fiuni Statistics 344 

Fifty Tears Ago 358 

Finances of County 259 

First County Coniniissioners 252 

First Grand Jury 253 

First Petit Jury 254 

Fli'st Schools 291 

First Willie Settlement 246 

P'orests 231 

Forty-tliirtl Regiment 277 

Fourteeutli Reginient 274 

Fox Hunts 410 

Fratcrnai Societies 307 

Free and Accepted Masons 307 

Friends 303 

G 

r.colot'v 22S 

Gessie 422 

Gravel Roads 341 



Hari-isdu's Marrli 241 

IMt Townsliiii 405 

Tli^liland 414 

Ili;;lil;md Townsliip 417 

Tlillsdale 413 

I 

IndeiKyndent Order of odd Fi'lln\vs_ IJd'.i 

Indian Occupancy 238 

Indian Races 235 

Indiana Furnace 355 

Industries of Clinton 379 

Iron Industry 355 

Iron Ore 231 

J 

Jails 255 

Jonestown 412 

Judges, Associate 267 

Judges. Probate 267 

Jurors. First Grand 253 



Kni^'lits (if I'.vtlii.is 311 

Kniglits of llie Gol(l<'ii Circle 272 

T, 

I.asI and I.ai'f:csl .Mines ;i53 

Iwiwyers 312 

Legislative Act 249 

r.iMCdln's Assassination 370 

Lodges 381, 401 

I.ong-lost Daughter 427 

M 

.Market Q\iotations 361 

.Masonic Order 307 

Medici 1 Societies 324 

MetliodisI Kiii.scopal Churches 298 

Mllilary History 268 

.Mines 348 

Mining Wages 350 

Miscoll.-ineous Topics 355 

Mound Ruilders 235 

N 

Narrow i;auge U.iilro;id .340 

Natural Features 227 

Natur.-il Gas 385 

Ncwiiorl 386 

Newspapers 325 

O 

Odd Fellows 309 

Oflicials of County 262 

Old Indi.ina Furnace 355 

Old time eirfuit Rider 302 

One Iltiiidrod 'i'vveiity ninth Regiment 281 

Org.iiii!'.,i(loii of County 249 

Orphans' Home. The Collett 402 

P 

r.-rrysville 420 

Petit Jury, First 254 

Physicians of County 318 

Plats, Original Village 362 

Piilitical Incidents 357 

Poor Farm 257 



HISTORICAL INDEX. 



ri)|inl;iticiii Statistics SGA 

I'ostofflces .•',(;(; 

Poverty aiul Hii))i)iness 373 

I'liwder Mill Explnsimi 307 

rre-liistoiic Races 235 

Presbyterian Churclies 203 

Prices; Comparative 361 

Prices for Coal 35(p 

Probate Judges 267 

Q 

Qualver Hill 428 

Qualjers 303 

R 

Railroad Jlileage 341 

Railroads 337 

Rebeliah Degree 31(i 

Recorders of County 263 

Regulators 270 

R()l)bery of County Treasury 2iis 

Roman Catholic Cluircbes 304 

S 

Si. I'erniie : 412 

School ICnunieration 292 

School Statistics, 1SS7 290 

School Statistics. 1912 292 

Schools. First 291 

Se-Seep. Chief 242 

Settlement, First White 246 

Seventy-first Regiment 270 

Sheriffs 262 

Sixteenth Regiment 275 



Sixth C.ivalry 279 

Slaughter of Wild Animals 248 

Society of Friends 303 

Streams 227 

Summit Orove 414 

Surveyors of Couuty 265 

T 

Temperance Orgauization 366 

Thirty-tirst Regiment 277 

Timber 231 

Tipton. Gen. John 243 

Toronto 412 

Transportation Facilities 336 

Treachery 272 

Treasurers of County 264 

U 

••Uncle Tom^s Cabin^' 269 

United Brethren Churches 2Jt6 

United Brethren Union Churches 306 

Universalists 304 

V 

y.-iluations 239 

Vermillion County Attorneys 312 

Vermillion County I'hysici.ins 318 

Vermillion Township 423 

Vill.ige Plats 362 

W 

War Funds 282 

Water Power 232 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 



A 

Adams, .lames W 64o 

Adams, ,Joseph D 709 

Adams. Lewis E 67S 

Adamson. Henry 515 

Aikman, Barton S., Hon 434 

Aiknian. Homer B 638 

Alll)riglU, Henry 674 

Allen, R. A 757 

Amis, Joseph W 458 

Andrews, Darwin 546 

Arthur. James N" 556 

Ashley, Charles W., Jr 510 

Ashniore, James 706 

Aye. Albert 610 

B 

Bales, Harry 782 

Ball. Charles F 595 

Beeler, Frank H., M. D 447 

Bennett. Charles 662 

Benson, .^lonzo O 537 

Bingham. Thomas 646 

Bishop, Lucius O 448 

Blake. William P 623 

Bowsher, William A 524 

Brannon, Charles 668 

Briggs, Guy H 754 

Brockway, Allan T 483 

Brown, John D 769 

Brown. William F 712 

Bryant. Guy 686 

Burks, .John D 789 

Burnett, .Tames F 552 

Butcher. Rev. A. C 750 

C 

Carpenter. B. O 800 

Carter. M. B 748 

Case. Marvin H 736 



Casebeer, I. M., M. D 643 

Catlin, Samuel T 487 

Chaney, Ernest. 669 

Chaney. .lames A 649 

Chaney. Omer 658 

Chapman, Ewing 497 

Chesterfield, Oscar 612 

Church. Richard F 543 

Clark, Albert L : 794 

Coble. Samuel 672 

Cole, Jacob S 620 

Collings, William B 689- 

Conley. Hugh H 734 

Coo])er. Charles R 747 

ro\. William, Sr 752 

r'ox, William N 628 

Cri.sty, Frank P 560 

D 

Daniels, Joseph J 507 

Davis, Bird H 544 

Davis, Holbert 809 

Davis, Jacob G 549 

Davis, Samuel B 512 

Delp, Juel A 699 

Devonald, William 561 

Dickenson, G. E 799 

Drake. Leonidas 565 

Dugger. James G 557 

Durr. Sebastian 681 

E 

Elder. James E 443 

■^Uer. James H 783 

Evans. Dr. E. SI 697 

F 

Ferguson. Arthui 601 

Ferguson, Henry 569 

."'erguton, James 605 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



Finnegan, G. L l S04 

Finney. R. J 766 

Fisher, J. A 651 

Frantz, Joseph L 599 

Frazer. Allen ; 755 

Frist. Jasper N 580 

Fultz. Charles .\ 624 

G 

Garwood. Judge A 805 

Gates, F. M 621 

Gillum, William B 525 

Gillum, William H., M. D 498 

Gilmore. John W 540 

Goodin. William . 618 

Gregg, Fred Alfred 562 

Gregory, flames 600 

Gregory, Thomas 802 

Griffin, Fred 664 

Griffin, G. W 811 

Griffin, J. G 812 

Griffiths, D. W 803 

Grubb, Henry 502 

Giiinn, Robert E 75.'! 

H 

Haddon, Jesse E 551 

Hall, Melvin L., M. D 741 

Hall, Capt. S. J 729 

Hargrave, Arthur A 504 

Harrison, Edgar R 786 

Harrison, Robert 758 

Harrison, Roy C 598 

Harshbarger. John E 670 

Hatiield, G. W ■_ 773 

Hathaway, Elberson 715 

Hayes, William L 571 

Heaton, J. R 655 

Henderson, Harold A 516 

Henderson, John 732 

Hess, Asa A 550 

Hobson, Ira 700 

Hosford. Charles 792 

Hosford, Monroe G 587 

Hughes, Ralph V 798 

Humphries, L. B 589 

Hunt, Elwood 518 

Huxford, A. J 466 

Huxford, Perry 781 

H\ixford, Voorhees 660 



J 

Jacks, George W 676 

Jacobs. Herman H 657 

lames, James D 793 

Jardine. William 718 

Jeffries, Stephen H 532 

Jenks, Stephen 713 

Johns, J. .M 576 

Johnson, Daniel C 508 

Johnson, Frank R 635 

Johnson, William A.. .AI. D 615 

Johnston. James T 476 

Johnston, William. Jr 810 

Jones. Edward 555 

K 

Kearns, F. M 807 

Kerr, James H 538 

Kessler, M. V 814 

Keyes, Otis M., il. D 602 

L 

Lake, Israel 787 

l.aney, George L 640 

Lang, Benjamin F 717 

Lanning. William 693 

Laverty. Aquilla 530 

Leaviti, H. B 772 

Lindley, S. G 702 

Linebarger, George H 631 

Linebarger, John A 456 

Linebarger, Levi J 634 

Livengood, Charles A 692 

lx)ckridge, A. B., M. D 492 

Lowe. Harry L 705 

Ivowlor. C. M 806 

Lyday, Mark W 578 

Mc 

McCaman, E. F 728 

.McCormack, E. G 720 

McCutchan, E. M 764 

McDonald. Thomas L 582 

McKlroy. Stephen C 610 

.McFaddin, John S 520 

.McMuUen, D. B 6o3 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



M 

Miinion. Sylvester 771 

.Alark. J. H 711 

Marks. George E 534 

.Martin. T. C 76:', 

.Ma.wvell, Howard 4!)0 

Ma.wvell, W. H 6H0 

Meyers, Charles H 545 

Miller. C. F 795 

Miller, Dick 813 

Miller. John R 53l> 

Jliller, John R. Mc 71!i 

Mitchell. Frederick A 6t)!l 

Montgomery. Hugh 533 

Montgomery. .John H 656 

Moore. Harry 654 

Morgan, Brown H 574 

^lorgsn, Harmon K 572 

.Morris, C. C, Jl. D 4D5 

Myers. J. H 677 

Jlyers, Quincy A 462 

Myers. William C. .M. D 604 

N 

Xeal. M. Hudson 703 

Xebeker. Mark E 511 

Xeel, E. E 647 

Nelson, Thomas H : 591 

Newlin, Ira S15 

Newton, John R 665 

Nichols, Frank H 461 

Nichols, Maj. Jonathan M 464 

Nixon. Robert H 452 

Nurnberger, Albert 666 



Overpeck. C. W.. .M. D 489 

Overpeck, Isaac M 680 

Overpeck, Leonidas E 650 

P 

Paine, James 581 

Paine, John R 584 

Parke County Times 528 

Payne. Harrison T 445 

Peer, William F 722 

Pence, Peter 485 

Phillips, Parke 691 



Phinney. Walter G 759 

Pickaril. Isaac A 4J3 

Pickard, John S 517 

Pierce, Jesse W 76S 

Pike. Stephen A 500 

Pitman. Bennie E 568 

Poiter, Worth W ^^ 632 

Pritchett, Grover C, M. D 607 

Puett. .lames W 682 

Puett. S. F. Max 473 

Puett. Samuel D 474 

Puett. Thomas B 684 

Puffer. Morgan 707 

Puutenney, John G 608 

R 

Redman, .lohn W 554 

Reed. Charles S 606 

Reed, James S , 765 

Reeder, Valzah 749 

Renick, Charles D 593 

Riggs, William 626 

Richards. Harry J. 808 

Kobliins, S. y\ 791 

Roberts, Phillip A 779 

Rohm, E. H. C 774 

Rohm, George W . 778 

Rudy. Milo J 541 

Rusing, R. J 679 

Russell, Jesse H 725 

Rutter. J. Carl 704 

S 

Salmon. George H 661 

Satterlee, Willis A 575 

Scott, Matthew M 745 

Seybold, John N 596 

Seybold, Percy 688 

Seyliold, William P 586 

Shannon. Walter B 636 

Sberrill. B. O 738 

Sherrill, C. L 528 

Sherrill. F. L 528 

Shew. Henry "84 

Shirkie. James 570 

Simpson. J. T 744 

Skeetors, Homer J.. 439 

Skidmore. J. F 740 

Snow. James M 659 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX. 



Soules, Alonzo 687 

Spellman, E. H 733 

Spencer, Frank 724 

Spencer, George \V., Jr 450 

Spencer, John H 467 

Staats, Samuel 723 

Stark, Alfred H 454 

Stark, John O 472 

Stephens, Edgar R 627 

Stewart, Lee Roy 780 

Stone, Clarence 590 

Stone, Robert I 639 

Stoner. Lycurgus T 685 

Strain, Joseph W 441 

Strong, Daniel S.. U. D 548 

Strouse, Isaac R 480 

Stiiltz, (Jcorw W. 5G3 

Stuthard, George B 471 

Sunkel, George D 614 

Swope. Raymond E.. M. D 484 

T 

Taylor. Green T 1 622 

Taylor, James A 663 

Thomas. Charles B 671 

Thomas. Clay E 785 

Thompson, Dee 1 698 

Thomson, William M 479 

Times, Parke County 528 

Tolin, John A 727 



Tucker. W. N 797 

Tutwiler. James P 585 

Tyre, James 652 

V 

Vansickle, Ross 716 

W 

Walker, Charles P ^ 696 

Walker, Fred 667 

Walter, John 558 

Watson, Henry 630 

Wait, William C 469 

Walters, John 559 

Welch. Elmer T 613 

Welch, John A., .M. D 616 

Welch. Patrick 721 

Wheat, Albert 694 

White, Hon. Ared F 429 

White, Isaac D., M. D 761 

White, Ren M 762 

White, William J 776 

Whittington. James M 523 

Williams, Daniel C 529 

Williams, David 675 

Winter, C. A 743 

Wood. Fred 790 

Wright, Dana F 567 



PARKE COUNTY 



CHAPTER I. 



liAKI.V iiXDIANA HISTORY. 



What is now known as the state of Indiana was originally discovered 
and hence claimed as the possession of France by that government. It was 
Joliet. a Frenchman of great experience as a navigator and discoverer, who 
was accompanied by that illustrious Catholic. Father Marrpiette. who first set 
the world in possession of the facts concerning the great Mississippi river 
and its wide, rich Aalley. Marquette had learned much concerning this 
stream through the Indians whom he was seeking, in the northern country, 
to con\ert to Christianitx. In a leltcr written b\- Marcpiette from his mis- 
sion to his reverend superior, he wrote : 

"While the Illinois (tribe) came to this point they pass a great river 
which is almost a league in width. It flows from north to .south and to so 
great a distance that the Illinois, who know nothing of the use of a canoe, 
have never yet heard tell of its mouth : thev only know that there are great 
nations below them, some of whom, dwelling to the east-southeast of their 
country, gather their Indian corn twice a year. A nation that they call 
Chaounan ( Shawneese) came to \isit them during the past summer; the 
young man that has been given me to teach me the language has seen them ; 
they were loaded with glass beads, which shows that the\- have communica- 
tion with the Europeans. They had to journey across the land for more 
than thirty days before arriving at their country. It is hardly probable that 
this great river discharges itself into the ocean from \"irginia. We are more 
inclined to think that it has its mouth in California. If the savages, who 
have promised to make me a canoe, do not fail in their word, we will navi- 
gate this river as far as possible with a Frenchman and this young man that 
they have given me, who understands several languages and ])ossesses great 
facility for acquiring others. We shall visit these nations who dwell along 
its shores to open the way of our fathers who for a long time have awaited 



26 PARKE AND V'ERMII.I.IOX COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

this happiness. This discovery will give us a perfect knowledge of the sea, 
either to the south or west." 

This knowledge came to the ears of the French authorities at Quebec, 
and indeed over in Paris, and naturally enough stimulated further inquiry. 
There were three theories as to where the [Mississippi river finally emptied 
its wfaters : One that it was discharged into the Atlantic ocean, south of the 
British colony of Virginia; second, that it flowed into the gulf of Mexico; 
and third, which was the most popular theory, that it was emptied into the 
Red Sea. as the Gulf of California was called, and if the latter, that it would 
afiford a passage to China. To solve this important problem in the world's 
commerce, it was determined, as appears from a letter from the governor, at 
Quebec, to M. Colbert, minister of the French navy at Paris, expedient '"for 
service to send Sieur Joliet to the country of the Mascoutines, to discover 
the South Sea and the great river — they call the Mississippi — which is sup- 
posed to discharge itself into the Sea of California." 

Father Marrjuette was chosen to accompany Joliet on account of the 
mformation he had already gained from the various Indians he had met. as 
he wrote Father Dablon, his superior, when informed by the latter that he 
was to be Joliet's companion. "I am ready to go on your order to seek new 
nations toward the South Sea. and teach them of our great God whom they 
hitherto have not known." 

Before proceeding with a description of the wonderful history of this 
voyage of Joliet and Marquette, it will be well to note that Spain had a prior 
right over France to the Mississippi valley b}' \irtue of previous discovery. 
As early as 1525. Cortez had conquered Mexico, portioned out its rich mines 
among his favorites and reduced the inofifensi\ e inhabitants to the worst of 
slavery, making them till the ground and toil in the mines for their unfeel- 
ing masters. A few years following the conquest of Mexico, the Spaniards, 
under Pamphilus de Narvaez. in 1528, undertook the conquest and coloniza- 
tion of Florida and the entire northeast coast-line of the gulf. After long 
and futile wanderings in the interior, his party returned to the sea coast and 
endeavored to reach Tampico. in wretched boats. Nearly all perished by 
disease, storm and famine. The survivors, with one Cabeza de Vaca at their 
head, drifted to an island near the present state of Mississippi, from which, 
after four years of slavery, De Vaca. with four companions, escaped to the 
mainland and started westward, .going clear across the continent to the Gulf 
of California. The natives took them for supernatural beings. They as- 
sumed the guise of jugglers, and the Indian tribes through which they passed 
invested them with a tribe of medicine men. and their li\es were thus guarded 



PARKE AND \ERMlLLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 2^ 

with a superstitious awe. They are, perhaps, the first Europeans who ever 
went overland from the Atlantic to the Pacific. They must have crossed the 
Great River (Mississippi) somewhere on their route, remaining '"in history, 
in a distant twilight, as the first Europeans known to ha\'e set foot on the 
banks of the Mississippi river." 

It was in 1539 when Hernando De Soto, with a party of cavaliers, mostly 
the sons of titled nobility, landed with their horses upon the coast of Elorida. 
During that and the following four years these daring adventurers wandered 
through the wilderness, traveling through portions of Florida. Carolina, 
Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, crossing the Mississippi river, it is sup- 
posed, at some point within the present state of ]\iississippi. Crossing the 
great river, they pressed their way onward to the base of the Rocky moun- 
tains, vainly searching for the gold so mai-velously described by De Vaca. 
De Soto's party endured hardships that would depress the stoutest hearts, 
while, with sword and fire, they perpetrated atrocities upon the Indian 
tribes through which they passed, burning their villages and inflicting cruel- 
ties which make us blush for the wickedness of men claiming to be Chris- 
tians. De Soto died in May or June, 1542, on the banks of the Mississippi, 
below the mouth of the Washita, and his immediate attendants concealed 
hi? death from the others and secretly, in the night, buried his body in the 
middle of the stream. The remnant of his survivors went westward and then 
returned back again to the river, passing the winter upon its banks. The 
following spring they went down the river, in seven boats which they had 
rudely constructed out of such scanty material and with the few tools they 
could command. In these boats, after three months' voyage, they arrived at 
the Spanish town of Panuco, on the river of that name in Mexico. 

Later, in 1365. Spain, failing in ])re\ious attempts, effected a lodg- 
ment in Florida, and for the protection of her colony built the old fort at 
St. Augustine, whose ancient ruins still stand out boldly today, as showing 
where the first settlement was effected in this country. It also stands as a 
monunienl (i\er the graves of the hundreds of natixes there killed, after serv- 
ing in bondage, by their Spanish conquerors. These unfortunates had aided 
in the construction of the massive walls of masonry, converted into dun- 
geons, dark and gloomy, and in which they finally perished. 

While Spain retained her hold on Mexico and enlarged her possessions 
and continued, with feebler efforts, to keep possession of the Floridas. she 
took no measure to establish settlements along the Mississippi, or to avail 
herself of the advantage that might have resulted from its di.sco\ery. The 
Mississippi river excited no further notice after De Soto's time. For the next 



28 PARKE AND \'ERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

century it remained a sealed myster_\- until the French, approaching from the 
north by way of the Great Lakes, explored it in its entire length and brought 
to public view the vast extent and wonderful fertility of its valleys. 

Retracing our steps to the notes made in the carefully kept journal of 
Father Marquette, who, with Joliet, descended the Mississippi, it may first 
be stated that joliet and Marquette's voyage made one of the most thrilling 
and romantic chapters in the history of the country, especially to those inter- 
ested in the original of things connected with the states of Illinois and In- 
diana. The following is extracted from Marquette's journal : 

"The (lav of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin, whom I 
had always invoked, since I have been in the Ottawa country, to obtain of 
God the grace to be able to visit the nations on the river Mississippi, was in- 
cidentallv that on which M. Joll\et arrived with orders to the Comte de 
Frontenac, our governor, and ?^I. Talon, our intendant. to make the discov- 
en- with me. I was the more enraptured at this good news, as I saw my 
designs on the point of being accomplished, and myself in the happy neces- 
sitv of exposing my life for the salvation of all these nations, and i)articu- 
larl\- for tlie Illinois, who had. when 1 was at Lapointe du Esprit, very ear- 
nesth entreated me to carr_\- the word of God to their countrw 

"\^'e were not long in preparing our outfit, although we were embarking 
on a vovage the duration of which we could not foresee. Indian corn, 
with some dried meats, was our whole stock of provisions. With this we 
set out in two bark canoes, M. Jollyet, myself and fi\e men. firmly re.solved 
to do all. and sufifer all for so glorious an enterprise. 

"It was on May 17. 1763. that we started from the mission of St. Igna- 
tius, at Michilimakinac. where I then was. 

"Our jov at being chosen for this expedition roused our courage and 
sweetened our labors of rowing from morning till night. As we were going 
to seek imknown countries, we took all possible precautions that, if our 
enterprise was hazardous, it should not be foolhardy : for this reason we 
gathered all possible knowledge from the Indians who had frequented these 
parts, and etven from their accounts traced a map of all the new country, 
marking down the ri\ers on which we were to sail, the names of the nations 
and places through which we were to pass, the course of the Great River, and 
what direction we should take when we got to it. 

"Above all, I put our voyage under the protection of the Blessed Virgin 
Immaculate, promising her that, if she did us grace to discover the Great 
River, I would give it the name of the Conception, and that I would also 
give that name to the first mission I should establish among the new nations, 
as I have actuallv done among the Illinois." 



PARKE AND VKRMII.I.IOX COUNTIES. INDIANA. 29 

After some days tliey readied an Indian \illage. and .Mar(|uetle's diary 
continues: "Here we are, then, at the Maskoutens. This word, in Algon- 
quin, may mean 'fire nation,' and that is the name gi\'en h_\- them! Tliis is the 
limit of the discoveries made by the I'rench. for they ha\e nul yet passed 
beyond it. The town is niade u]> of three nations gathered here, Miamis, 
Maskoutens and Kickabous. [This village was near the mouth of Wolfe 
river, which empties into Winnebago lake, ^^'isconsin. | .Vs liark for cabins 
in this region is scarce, they use rushes, which serve them for walls and 
roofs, but which atYord them no protection against the wind, and still less 
against the rain when it falls in torrents. The advantages of this kind of 
cabins is that they can roll them up and carry them easilv where the\' like in 
hunting time. 

"I felt no little pleasure in l)eholding the position of the town. The 
view is l>eautiful and picturesc|ue, for, from the eminence on which it is 
perched, the eye disco\ers on every side prairies spreading away beyond its 
reach, interspersed with thickets or groves of trees. The soil is \erv good, 
producing much corn. The Indians gather also large quantities of plums 
and grapes from which good wine could be made if they choose. 

"No sooner had we arrived than M. Jollyet and I assembled the Sa- 
chems., He tokl them we were sent b\- our governor to discover new coun- 
tries, and I, by the Almightx'. to illumine them with light of the gospel: that 
the sovereign ]\Iaster of our li\-es wishetl to l)e known to all nations, and 
that to ol>ey his will I did not fear death, to which I exposed myself in such 
dangerous voyages : that we needed two guides to put us on our way : these, 
making them a present, we begged them to grant to us. This the\ did very 
civilly, and even proceeded to speak to us liy a present, which was a mat to 
serve us on our voyage. 

"The next day. which was the tenth of June, two Miamis whom they 
had given us as guides, embarked with us in the sight of a great crowd, who 
could not wonder enough to see se\-en Frenchmen, alone in two canoes, dare 
to undertake so hazardous an expedition. 

"We knew that there was. three leagues from Maskoutens. a river 
emptying into the Mississippi. We knew, too. that the point of the compass 
we were to hold to reach it was the west-southwest, but the way is so cut up 
with marshes and little lakes that it is easv to go astray, especiallv as the river 
leading to it is so covered with wild oats that \ou can hardly discover the 
channel: hence we had need of two guides, who led us safelv to porta.ge of' 
twenty-seven hundred ])aces and helped us transport our canoes to enter the 
river, after which they returned, leaving us alone in an unknown country in 
the hands of Providence." 



30 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

This portage lias gi\en us the name of Portage City, at which location 
it was. and is situated in \\ isconsin, where the upper waters of Fox river, 
empt\'ing into Green bay, approach the Wisconsin river, which, coming from 
the nortliwest. here changes its course to the southwest. The distance across 
this neck is a mile and a lialf, over tlie beautiful prairie above described by 
Marquette. 

Marquette's journal continues: "\\'e now leave the waters which tlow 
to Quebec, a distance of about five hundred leagues, to follow those which 
will henceforth lead us into strange lands. 

"Our route was southwest, and after sailing about thirty leagues we 
perceived a place which had all the appearances of an iron mine, and in fact 
one of our party who had seen some before averred that the one we had 
found was \ery rich and very good. After forty leagues on this same route 
we reached the mouth of the river,, and finding ourselves at forty-two one-half 
north.' we safely enter the Mississippi on the 17th of June with a jov I can- 
not express. 

"Having descended as far as forty-one degrees and twenty-eight min- 
utes, in the same direction, we find that turkeys have taken the place of 
game, and pisikious [buffalo] or wild cattle that of other beasts. 

'■.\t last, on the 23th of June, we perceived foot-prints of men. In- the 
water sides, and a beaten path leading to some Indian village, and we re- 
solved to go and reconnoiter; we accordinglv left our twn canoes in charge 
of our pen])le. cautioning them to beware of a surprise: then M. JolKet and 
I undertook the rather liazardous discover}- for two n.-icn. single and alone, 
who thus put themsehTs at the merc}- of an unknown and barbarous people. 
We followed the little path in silence and going about two leagues we dis- 
covered a village on the banks of the river, and two others on the hill a league 
from the former. Then, indeed, Ave recommended ourselves to God with all 
our hearts, and having implored his help we passed on undiscovered, and 
came so near that we e-\"en heard the Indians talking. \Ye then deemed it 
time to announce i)ursel\es, as we did by a crv which we raised with all our 
strength, and then halted without advancing any farther. At this cry the 
Indians rushed out of their cabins, and having probably recognized us as 
French, especially seeing a black gown, or at least having no reason to dis- 
trust us, seeing we were but two and had made known our coming, they 
deputed four old men to come and speak to us. Two carried tobacco pipes 
well adorned and trimmed with many kinds of feathers. They marched 
slowly, lifting their pipes toward the sun, as if offering them to it to smoke, 
but yet without uttering a single word. They were a long time coming the 



PAUKE AND VERMIU.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 3 1 

little way fnun the village to us. Having reached u.s at last they stopped 
to consider ns attentively. 

■'I now took courage, seeing these ceremonies, which are used by them 
only with friends, and still more on seeing them covered with stuffs which 
made me judge them to he allies. I therefore spoke to them first, and asked 
them who they were. They answered that they were Illinois, and in token of 
peace they presented their pipes to smoke. They then invited us to their vil- 
lage, where all the tribe awaited us with impatience. These pipes for smok- 
ing are called in this country calumet, a word that is so much in use that I 
shall be obliged to employ it in order to be understood, as I shall have to 
speak it frequently. 

"At the door of the cabin in which we were to be received was an old 
man awaiting us in a \-ery remarkable posture, which is their usual cere- 
mony in receiving a stranger. This man was standing perfectly naked, with 
his hands stretched out and raised toward the sun, as if he wished to screen 
himself from its rays, which, nevertheless, passed through his fingers to his 
face. When we came near him be paid us this compliment, 'How beautiful 
is the sun, O Frenchmen, w ben thou coniest to visit us ! .Ml our town 
awaits thee and thou shalt enter into all our cabins in peace." He then took 
us to his, where there was a crowd of people, who devoured us with their 
eyes, but kept a profound silence. We heard, however, these words ad- 
dressed to us occasionally : 'Well done, brother, to visit us." As soon as we 
had taken our places in the cabin, they showed us the usual civilities, the pre- 
senting of the calumet. \'n\\ must not refuse unless \(,u would jiass fur an 
enemy, at least for being verv impolite. It is enough, however, to ])retend to 
smoke. While all the old men smoked after us to honor us. some came to in- 
\-ite us, on behalf of the great Sachem of the Illinois, to proceed to his town, 
where he wished to hold a council with us. \\'e went with a good retinue, 
for all the people who had never seen a Frenchmen among them could not 
tire looking at us: they threw tbemseh'es on the grass near us 1)\- the wa\side : 
then ran ahead of us: they threw themselves in front of us, and turned back 
to look at us again. All this was done without noise, and w ith the marks of 
great respect and entertained us well. 

"Having arrived at the great Sachem's town, we espied him at his 
cabin door l>etween two old men ; all three standing naked, w ith their calumets 
turned toward the sun. He harangued us in a few words to congratulate on 
our arrival, and then presented us his calumet and made us smoke: at the 
same time we entered his cabin, where we received all their usual greetings. 
Seeing all assembled and in silence, I spoke to them by four presents w hich I 



32 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

made tliem take. By the first, I said that we marched in peace to visit the 
nations on the river to the sea ; by the second, I declared to them that God, 
their creator, had pity on them, since after having laeen so long ignorant of 
Him, He wished to become known to all nations : that 1 was sent on His be- 
half with that design: that it was for them to acknowledge and obey Him; 
by the third, that the great chief of the b'rench informed them that he spread 
peace everywhere, and had overcome the Iroquois ; lastly, by the fourth, we 
begged them to give us all the information they had of the sea, and of all 
nations through w hich we should have to pass to reach it. 

■'When I had finished ni}- speech, the Sachem rose, and laying his hand 
on the head of a little slave whom he w as about to gi\e us, spoke thus : "I 
thank thee, Black-gown, and thee, Frenchman,' addressing M. Jollyet, 'for 
taking so much pains to come to \isit us. Never has our river been so calm, 
nor so free from rocks, which }our canoes have removed as they passed; 
ne\'er has our tobacco had so fine a flavor, nor our corn ajjpeared so beau- 
tiful as we behold it today. Here is my son, that I give thee that thou mayest 
know mv heart. I pray thee take pity on me and all my nation. Thou know- 
est the Great Spirit who has made us all ; thou speakest to him and hearest 
his word ; ask him to give me life and health, and come and dwell with us 
that we may know him.' Saying this, he placed the little slave near us, and 
made us a second present, an all mysterious calumet, which they value more 
than a slave. By this present he showed us his esteem for our governor, after 
the account we had given of him. By the third, he begged us, on behalf of 
the whole nation, not to proceed farther on acount of the great dangers to 
which we exposed ourselves. 

"I replied that I did not fear death, and that I esteemed no happiness 
greater than that of losing my life for the glory of Him who made us all. 
But these poor people could not understand. The council was followed by a 
great feast which consisted of four cour.ses, which we had to take with all 
their ways. The first course was a great wooden dish full of sagamity — 
that is to say, of Indian meal boiled in w ater and seasoned with grease. The 
master of ceremonies, \vith a spoonful of sagamity, ])resented it three or four 
times to the mouth, as we would do with a little child: he did the same to M. 
Jollyet. For the second course, containing three fish, he took some pains to 
remove the bones, and having blown upon it to cool it, put it in my mouth, 
as we would food to a bird. For the third course they produced a large dog 
which thev had just killed, but learning that we did not eat it. withdrew it. 
Finally, the fourth course was a piece of wild ox, the fattest portions of 
which were put into our mouths. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 33 

"We took leave of our Illinois about the end of June, and embarked in 
sight of all the tribe, who admire our canoes, having never seen the like. 

"As we were discoursing, while sailing gently down a beautiful, still, 
clear water, we heard the noise of a rapid into which we were alxjut to fall. 
I have seen nothing more frightful ; a mass of large trees, entire with branches 
— real floating islands — came rushing from the mouth of the river Pekitanoui 
so impetuously that we could not, without great danger, expose ourselves to 
cross over it. The agitation was so great that the water was all muddy and 
could not get clear. 

"After having made about twenty leagues due south and a little less to 
the southeast, we came to the river called Ouabouskigon, the mouth of which 
is thirty-six degrees north. [This was the Wabash river.] This river comes 
from the country on the east inhabited by the Chaouanous, in such numbers 
that they reckon as many as twenty-three villages in one district, and fifteen 
in another, lying quite near each other. They are by no means warlike and 
are the people the Iroquois go far in order to wage an unprovoked war upon 
them ; and as these poor people cannot defend themselves they allow them- 
selves to be taken and carried off like sheep, and, innocent as they are, tlo not 
fail to experience the barbarity of the Iroquois who burn them cruelly. 

"Having arrived about a half league from Akansea [Arkansas] river 
we saw two canoes coming towards us. The commander was standing up, 
holding in his hand a calumet, with which he made signs according to the 
customs of the country. He approached us, singing quite agreeably, and in- 
vited us to smoke, after which he presented us some sagimity and bread 
made of Indian corn, of which we ate a little. We fortunately found among 
them a man we brought from Mitchigamen. By means of him I first spoke to 
the assembly by ordinaiy presents. They admired what I told them of God 
and the mysteries of our holy faith, and showed a great desire to keep me 
with them to instruct them. 

"We then asked them what they knew of the sea; they replied the\ 
were only ten days' journey from it (we could have made the distance in ti\e 
days) ; that they did not know the nations who inhabited it, because their 
enemies prevented their commerce with these Europeans: that the Indians 
with fire-arms whom we had met were their enemies, who cut off the passage 
to the sea, and prevented their making an acquaintance with Europeans, or 
having commerce with such nation ; that besides, we should expose oursehes 
greatly by passing out on the river. Since being armed, and used to war. w c 
could not, without danger, advance on that river whicli thev constantly occup\ 
(3) 



34 PARKE AND VERMILLION' COl'NTIES, INDIANA. 

"In tlie evening the Sachems held a secret cnuncil un the design of some 
tu kill us fcjr ])lunder. Init the chief broke u]) all these schemes, and sending for 
us, danced the calumet in presence, and then, tu remcive all fears, presented it 
to me. 

■•.\1. jollyet and 1 held another council to deliberate on what we shuuld 
do, whether we should ]nish on, or rest satisfied with the discovery we had 
made, .\fter having attentively considered that we were not far from the 
gulf of -Mexico, the basin of which is thirly-one degrees north, and we at 
thirty-three degrees: so that we could not be more than three days' Journey: 
that the Mississippi undoubtedly had its mouth in Florida or the (iulf of 
Ale.xico, and not on the east in X'irginia. whose >ea-coast is thirty-four de- 
grees north, which we hail passed, without yet having reached the sea. nor 
on the western side in California, because that would require a westerly, or 
west southwest course, and we had always been .going south. W e consid- 
ered, moreover, that we risked losing the fruit of the \-oyage. ot which we 
could gix'e no infcirmation. if we should thrtjw ourselves into the hands ot the 
Spaniards, who would undoubtedly at least hold us ])risoners. Besides it was 
clear that we were in no jjosition to resist Indians allied to Euro])eans. numer- 
ous and e.xpeit in the use of fire-arms, who continually infested ibc lower 
part of the river. Lastly, we had gathered all the information thru could be 
gained from the expedition. All these reasons induced us to return. This 
was announced to the Indians, and after a day's rest ])reparecl for it. 

■■.\fter a month's navigation down the .\lississip])i. from the forty-sec- 
ond to the thirty-fourth degree, and after having published the go.spel as well 
as 1 could to the nations I met. we left the village of Akansea on the ijtli of 
julv. to retrace our steps. \\'e accordingly ascended the Mississi])pi. which 
gave us great trouljle to stem its currents. We left it indeed about the thirty- 
eighth degree, to enter another river I the Illinois), which greatly shortened 
our way, and l)rought us little trouble, wc soon arriving to the lake of the 
Illinois, 

■A\'e had seen nothing like this river, for the fertility of the land, its 
])rairies, woods, wild cattle, stag, deer, wild-cats, bustards, swans, ducks, par- 
rots, and even beaver: its many little lakes and rivers. That on which we 
sailed is broad, deep and gentle for sixty-five leagues. During the spring and 
part of the summer, the only portage is half a league. 

"We found there an Illinois town called Kaskaski, composed of sexenty- 
four cabins: thev received us well, and compelled me to promise them to re- 
turn and instruct them. One of the chiefs of this tribe, with his young men. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 35 

escorted us lo lllinnis lake, whence at last we returneil in the close of Septem- 
ber to the Bay of tlie I'Y'tid ((ireen bay), whence we had set out in the be- 
ginning of Jime. Had all this \-oyage caused Ijut the salvation of one suul, 
1 should deem all my fatigue well repaid, and this 1 have reason to think, for 
when 1 was returning, I passed In- the Indians of Peoria. 1 was there three 
days anuduncing the faith in their cabins, after which, as we were embark- 
ing, they bn night me. on the water's edge, a dying child, which I baptized a 
little before it expired. 1)\- an admirable providence for the salvation of that 
innocent soul." 

Count FrciUtenac. writing from Uuebec to 1\I. Colliert. minister at 
I'aris, announces that "Sr. johet, whom ^^onsieur Talon ad\ised me, on my 
arrival from bVance, to dispatch tor the (bscovery of the South sea, has re- 
turned three months ago. He has disco\ered some very tine countries, and a 
navigation so easy through beautiful rixers he has found, that a ])erson can 
go from Lake Ontario in a bark to the Gulf of Mexico, there being onlv one 
carrying place found (around Niagara Falls), where Lake Ontario communi- 
cates with Lake Erie. I send you by my secretary, the ma]) which Sr. Joliet 
has made of the Great river he lias disciixered. and the obser\ations lie has 
been able to recollect, as he lost all his minutes and journals in the ship- 
wreck he suffered within sight of Montreal, where, after having a completed 
voyage of twelve hunrlred leagues, he was near l)eing drowned, and lost all 
his papers and a little Indian whom he brought from those countries. These 
accidents ha\e caused me great regret." 

LA S.\LLe's E.XPLORATIONS. 

Governor b'rontenac of Oneliec selected La Salle to take command of 
l'"ort l'"rontenac, near Kingston, on the St. Lawrence river, at that time a 
dilapidated, wooden .structure on the frontier of Ganada. La Salle remained in 
Canada about nine years, accpiiring knowledge of the Indians, their man- 
ners, languages, etc. He then returned to France and presented a iJClition to 
the King, in which lie urged the necessity of maintaining Frontenac, which 
he offered to restore with a structure of stone: to keeji there a garrison equal 
to the one in Montreal: to employ as many as fifteen laborers during the first 
year: to clear and till the land, and to supply the surrounding Indian villages 
with Recollect missionaries in furtherance of the cause of religion, all at his 
own expense, on condition that the King would grant him the right of .seign- 
iory and a monopoly of the trade incident to it. He further petitioned for 



36 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

title of nobility in consideration of voyages he had already made in Canada, 
at his own expense and which had resulted in great benefit to the King's 
colony. The King heard the petition graciously, and on Alay 13, 1675, 
granted La Salle and his heirs Fort Frontenac, with four leagues of the ad- 
jacent country along the lakes and rivers above and below the fort and a 
half league inward, and the adjacent islands, with the right of hunting and 
fishing on Lake Ontario and the near-by rivers. The same day he issued 
La Salle a title making him a nobleman, having, as the King declared, been 
informed of the worthy deeds performed by the people, either in reducing or 
civilizing the savages or in defending themselves against their frequent in- 
sults, especially of the Iroquois, etc. He left France armed with these pre- 
cious documents and repaired to Canada, where he performed the conditions 
imposed by the terms of his titles. He sailed for France again in 1677, and 
in the following year, after he and Colbert had finally matured their plans, 
he again petitioned the King for a license to prosecute further discoveries. 
The King granted his request, giving him a permit, under date of May 12, 
1678, to endeavor to discover the western part of New France; the King 
avowing in the letters patent that he had "nothing more at heart than the 
discovery of that country where there is a prospect of finding a way to pene- 
trate Mexico," and authorizing La Salle to prosecute discoveries, and con- 
struct forts in such places as he might think necessary, and enjoy there the 
same monopoly as at Fort Frontenac on condition that the enterprise should 
l3e conducted at La Salle's expense and completed within five years ; and 
that he should not trade with the savages, who carried their peltries and 
beavers to Montreal : and that the governor, intendant, justices and other 
officers of the King in Xew France, through the Prince de Conti, was intro- 
duced to one Henri de Tonti, an Italian by birth, who for eight years had 
been in the French service. Having had one of his hands shot off while in 
Sicily, he repaired to France to seek employment. It was a most fortunate 
meeting. Tonti — a name that should be prominently associated with dis- 
coveries in this part of America — became La Salle's companion. 

Supplied with this new grant of enlarged powers. La Salle, in company 
with Tonti, and thirty men, comprising pilots, sailors, carpenters and other 
mechanics, with a supply of material necessary for the intended expedition, 
left France for Quebec. Here the party was joined by some Canadians, and 
the whole force was sent forward to Fort Frontenac, at the outlet of Lake 
Ontario, since this fort had been granted to La Salle. He had, in conform- 
ity to the terms of his letters patent, greatly enlarged and strengthened its 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 37 

defenses. Here he met Louis Hennepin, a Franciscan friar, whom it seems 
had been sent hither, along with Father Gabriel de la Ribourde, all of the 
same religious order, to accompany La Salle's expedition. In the meantime 
Hennepin was occupied in pastoral labors among the soldiers of the garrison 
and the people of the little hamlet of peasants nearby, and proselyting the 
Indians of the neighboring country. Hennepin, from his own account, had 
not only traveled over sex'eral parts of Europe before coming to Canada, but 
since his arri\al in .\merica had spent much time in roaming about among 
the savages, to gratify his love of adventure and acquire knowledge. 

Hennepin's name and writings are so prominently connected with the 
history of the Mississippi valley and withal, his contradictory statements, 
made at a later date of his life, as to the extent of his own tra\els, have so 
clouded his reputation with grave doubt as to his regard to truth, that we 
will give no sketch of his life and travels, to speak of. His first work is gen- 
erally regarded as authentic. That he did go up the Mississippi river there 
seems no contro\ersy. while grave doubts prevail as to many statements in 
his last publication, which would otherwise pass without suspicion were they 
not found in company with statements known to be untrue. 

In the preface of his work, published in 1697, Father Hennepin assigns 
as a reason why he did not publish his descent of the Mississippi river in his 
volume issued in 1683, "that I was obliged to say nothing of the course of 
the Mississippi, from the mouth of the Illinois down to the sea, for fear of 
disobliging M. La Salle, with whom 1 began my discovery. This gentleman 
alone would have the glory of having discovered the course of that ri\er. 
But when he heard that I had done it two years before him he could never 
forgive me, though, as I have said. I was so modest as to publish nothing 
of it. This was the true cause of his malice against me and of the barbarous 
usage I met with in France." 

Still his description of places he did visit; the aboriginal names and 
manners and customs of the Indians, and other facts which he had no mo- 
tive to misrepresent, are generally agreed upon as true in his last, as well as 
in his first, publication. Flis works are indeed the only repositories (if niaiiv 
interesting particulars relating to the Northwest, and authors quote from him, 
some indiscriminately and others with more caution, while all criticise him 
without measure. Hennepin, known as "Father Hennepin." was born in 
Belgium in 1640 and died at Utrecht. Holland, within a few years after the 
publication of his last book. 



jg PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

LA SALLe's OPERATIONS. 

La Salle brought up tlie St. LawreucL- to Fort l<"ronteuac the anchors, 
cordage and other material to be used in the \-essel which he tlesigned to 
construct above the Niagara Falls, tor navigating the western lakes. He 
alread)- had three small vessels on Lake Ontario, which he had made use of 
in a coasting trade with the Indians. One of these, a brigantine of ten tons, 
was loaded with his effects; his men, including Fathers Gabriel, Zenobius 
Meniljre and Hennepin, who were commissioned with care of the spiritual di- 
rection of the expedition, were placed aboard, and Xnvember i8th the 
vessel sailed westward for the Niagara ri\er. They kej)! the northern shore, 
and run into land and bartered for corn with the Iroquois at one of their 
\-illages, situated where Toronto, Canada, is located, and for fear of being 
frozen in the river, which here empties into the lake, had to cut the ice from 
about their ship. Detained by adverse winds, they remained here until the 
wind was favorable, when they sailed across the end of the lake and found 
anchorage in the mouth of Niagara river on December 6th. The season was 
far advanced and the ground co^■ered with snow fully a foot deep. Large 
masses of ice w ere floating and it became necessary to protect the ship, hence 
it was drawn up against the current, by means of strong cables, and finally 
dragged to the shore. A cabin, to protect with palisades, for shelter and to 
serve as a magazine to store supplies in, was also constructed. The ground 
was frozen so hard that it had to be thawed out with boiling water before the 
men could drive the stakes. La Salle now commenced to plan for his new 
boat. The ground was cleared away, trees felled, and carpenters were set 
to w-ork January 26th, and some of the plank being ready to fasten on. La 
Salle drnxe the first spike. As the work progressed La Salle made several 
trips, over snow and ice, for the purpose of hurrying matters along by secur- 
ing his needed materials. One of his vessels was lost on Lake Ontario, heav- 
ily laden with a cargo of valuable supplies, through the fault or wilful per\^er- 
sity of her i>ili)t. The Iroquois Indians were causing La Salle all kinds of trou- 
ble and these savage depredations, want of wholesome food, the loss of the 
vessel on the lake, and a refusal of the neighboring tribes to sell anv 
more store of their corn, reduced the partv to stich extremities that the shij:)- 
carpenters tried to run away. Thev were finallv persuaded to remain and 
prosecute the work. Six months later the new boat was finished, and had 
been set afloat even prior to that time, to avoid the designs of the Indians. 
She was sixty tons burden, and called the "Griffin.'" It was not until August. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 39 

1679, that her can\as was sjjread and the pilot, steering" hy the compass, witii 
La Salle and his thirty or more men, sailed out westward upon the unknown, 
silent waters of Lake Erie. Three days' sailing hrought them to the mnuth 
of the Detroit river. Father Hennepin was fairly delighled with the vmm- 
try along the river last mentioned. So charmed was he that lie undertook to 
persuade La Salle to settle at "De Troit."' But La Salle would not listen to his 
plea, hut steadilv pressed onward and after nearly heing .shipwrecked in a 
storm, he finally reached the island of .Mackinaw. La Salle, it must he re- 
membered, had two objects — first, his interest in the commerce of the new. 
wild country, the jmrchase of valuable furs, and secondly, his interest in m;ik- 
ing discoveries and explorations for his King, as he had contracted tn dn. 
Here La Salle made a hasty decision that really was the worst stej) he e\er 
took in his career. This was in sending the ship liack down the waters of the 
lakes, and then himself to ])rosecute his voyage the rest of the way to the 
head of Lake Michigan in frail birchen canoes. It delayed his discox'eries for 
two long years, brought se\ere hardships upon himself and greatly emliar- 
rassed all his future plans. The "(irifhn"' was lost, with all her cargo. She 
nor her crew was e\'er heard of after leaving the I'ottawalomie islands and 
what became of the ship and men m charge remains a m\'ster\- to this day. 
La Salle himself grew into a settled cunxiction that the "(irifhn" had been 
treacherously sunk by the pilot and sailors to whom he had entrusted her, 
and in after years thought he had found evidence that the authors of the 
crime, laden with the merchandise they had taken from her, had reached 
the Mississippi and ascended it. hoping to join De Shut, the fanmus chief of 
the Coureurs de Bois, and enrich themselves b_\- traffic with the mirthern 
tribes. 

The following is. in part, Hennepin's account (if La Salle's \ o\-age in 
canoes from the mouth of (ireen Way south along the shore of Lake Michi- 
gan, past Milwaukee and Chicago and around the southern end of the lake; 
thence along the eastern shore to the mouth of St. Jose|)h river; thence up 
that stream to South Bend, making the portage here to the headwaters of 
the Kankakee: thence down the l\;mkakee and Illinois through I'eoria lake. 
The ]>ri\ation and suffering to which La Salle and his part\- were exposed 
in navigating Lake Michigan at that early day, and late in the autumn of the 
year, when the waters were \-exed with storms, illustrate the courage and 
daring of such an undertaking. Hennepin says: "We left the Pottawatoniie 
islands to continue our voyage, being fourteen men in all. in four canoes. 1 
had charge of the smallest, which carried five hundred weight and t\\'o men. 



40 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

My companions being recently from Europe and unskilled with such boats, 
left me to handle the same in time of storms. 

"The canoes were laden with a smith's forge, utensils, tools for carpen- 
ters, joiners and sawyers, besides our goods and arms. We steered to the 
south toward mainland, from which the Pottawatomie islands are distant 
forty leagues ; but about midway, and in the night-time, we were greatly en- 
dangered by a sudden stomi. The waves dashed into our faces, the night was 
dark and we had much difficulty in keeping our canoes together. The day- 
light coming on, we reached the shore, where we remained four days, waiting 
for the lake to grow calm. In the meantime our Indian hunter went ashore 
in .search of game, but killing nothing other than a porcupine; this, however, 
made our Indian corn relishing. The weather became fair, we resumed our 
voyage, rowing all day and well into the night, along the western coast of the 
lake of Illinois. The wind again grew too fresh, and we landed upon a rocky 
beach where we had nothing to protect ourselves against a storm of snow and 
rain, except the clothing on our persons. We remained here two days for the 
sea to go down, having made a little fire from the wood cast ashore by the 
waves. We proceeded on our voyage, and toward evening the winds again 
forced us to the beach covered with rushes, where we remained three days ; 
and in the meantime our provision, consisting of only pumpkins and Indian 
corn, purchased from the Pottawatomies, entirely gave out. Our canoes were 
so heavily laden that we could not carry provisions with us. and we were 
compelled to rely on bartering for such supplies on our way. We left this 
dismal place, and after rowing twelve leagues came to another Pottawatomie 
village, whose inhabitants stood upon the beach to receive us. But M. La 
Salle refused to let anv one land, notwithstanding the severity of the weather. 
fearing some of his men might run away. We were in such great peril that 
La Salle flung himself into the water, after we had gone three leagues farther, 
and, with the aid of three men, carried the canoe of which he had charge ujwn 
their shoulders, otherwise it would have been broken to pieces by the waves. 
We were obliged to do the same with the other canoes. I myself carried the 
good Father Gabriel upon my back, his age being so well advanced as not to 
admit of his venturing in the water. We took ourselves to a piece of rising 
ground to avoid surprise, as we had no manner of acquaintance with the 
great number of savages whose village was so near at hand. W'e sent three 
men into the village to buy provisions, under the protection of the calum^ 
("pipe-of-peace"'), which the Indians had presented us as a means of intro- 
duction to, and a measure of safety against other tribes that we might meet 
on our way." 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 4I 

Father Hennepin continues: "Our three men, carrying the calumet and 
being well armed, went to the little village about three leagues from the 
place we had landed ; tiiey found no one at home, for the inhabitants, having 
heard that we refused to land at the other village, supposed we were enemies 
and had abandoned their habitations. In their absence our men took some 
of their corn, and left instead some goods, to let them know we were neither 
enemies nor robbers. Twenty of the inhabitants of this village came to our 
encampment on the beach, armed with axes, small guns, bows, and a sort of 
a club, which in their language, means a head-breaker. La Salle, with four 
well-armed men, advanced toward them for the purpose of opening a con- 
versation. He requested them to come near us, saying he had a party of 
hunters out who might come across them and take their lives. They came 
forward and took seats at the foot of an eminence, where we were en- 
camped, and La Salle amused them with the relation of his voyage, which he 
infonned them he had undertaken for their advantage and thus occupied 
their time until the arrival of the three men who had been sent out with the 
calumet, on seeing which the savages gave a great shout, arose to their feet 
and danced about. We excused our men from having taken some of their 
corn, and informed them that we had left its true value in goods; they were 
so well pleased with this that they immediately sent for mure corn, and on 
the next day they made us a gift of as much as we could conveniently carry 
in our canoes. 

"The next morning the old men of the tribe came to us with their calu- 
met of peace, and entertained us with a free offering df wild goats, win'ch 
their own hunters had taken. In return, we presented them with our thanks. 
accompanied with some axes, knives, and several little toys for their wives, 
with all which they were very much pleased. We left this ])lace the folldwing 
morning and soon encountered a four-days storm. 

"November ist we again embarked on the lake and came to the mouth 
of the Miamis, which comes from the southeast and falls into the lake." 

La Salle and his party entered Kaskaska village, near Peoria lake, April 
8. 1677. The Indians gave him hearty welcome and flocked from all direc- 
tions to the town to hear the "Black Gown" relate the truths of Christianity. 
December 3, 1679, the explorers embarked, being in all thirty-three men and 
eight canoes. They left the lake of Illinois and went up the river of the 
Miamis, which they had before made soundings of. Hennepin says: "We 
made about five and twenty leagues southward, but failed to discover the 
place where we were to land, and carry our canoes and effects into the river 



42 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

of Illinois, which falls intu that uf the Mississippi. We had already gone Ije- 
yond the portage, and. not knowing where we were, we thought proper to 
remain there, as we were expecting M. La Salle, who had taken to the land to 
view the country. He was lost for a time, hut finally came t(j the rest of his 
comjiany." 

La Salle then rehuilt l-"ort Miamis and finally ahandoned his voyage 
down the Mississippi bv sailing boats and ci included to go by ordinary 
wooden pirogues or canoes. Tonti was sent forward to Chicago creek, 
where he constructed a number of sledges. After other preparations had 
been made. La Salle and his party left St. Joseph, came around the lake, and 
placed their effects in sledges. His party consisted of twenty-three I-"rench- 
men and eighteen Indians. The savages took with them ten squaws and 
three chiklren, making in all fifty- four persons. They had to make the port- 
age of the Chicago river. After dragging their canoes, sledges, baggage and 
provisions, about eight}- leagues over the ice, on the Desplaines and Illinois 
rivers, they came to an old Indian town. The expedition continued down, as 
fast as weather would permit, to the ?ilississippi. Bearing down that wonder- 
ful stream, thev finally, on April oth, came to the place into where the ri\er 
begins to dixide into sexeral channels and empty into the gulf of Mexico. La 
Salle, in a canoe, coasted the borders of the sea. and then the parties assem- 
bled on a diy spot of ground, not far from the mouth of the river. On April 
9th, with all the pomp and ceremony of the Holy Catholic church. La Salle, 
in the name of the King of France, took possession of tlie .Mississippi and 
all its tributaries. The entire party, civilized and savage, present with the 
expedition fired their guns and shouted. "Vive le Rio." La Salle planted the 
column, at the same time proclaiming", in a loud \-oice. "In the name of the 
]\Iost High, Mighty, Im-incible and Mctorious Prince, Louis the Great, 1)}- 
the Grace of God, King of France and of Xavarre, fourteenth of that name, 
L this ninth day of April, one thousand six hundred and eighty-two. in vir- 
tue of the commission of his Majesty and his successors to the crown, take 
possession of this country of Louisiana, the seas, harbors, ports, bays, adja- 
cent straits, and all the people, nations, provinces, cities, towns, \-illages. mines, 
minerals, fisheries, streams and rivers within the extent of the said Lcniisiana, 
from the mouth of the great river St. Louis, otherwise called Ohio, as also 
along the river Colbert, or Mississippi, and the rivers that discharge them- 
selves therein from its source beyond the country of the Sioux, as far as its 
mouth at the sea, and also to theniouth of the river Palms, upon the assur- 
ance we have had from the natives of these countries that we were the first 



PARKE AND XKRMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 43 

Europeans who have descended or ascended the ri\er Colbert (Mississippi); 
hereby protesting against all who may hereafter undertake to in\-ade any or all 
of these aforesaid countries, peoples or lands, to the j^rejudice of His Ma- 
jesty, acquired by the consent of the nations dwelling herein. ()f which, and 
of all else that is needful. 1 herein- take to witness tlinsc whu hear me. and 
demand an act of the notary here present.'" 

At the foot of the tree to which the cross was attache<l La Salle causeil 
to be buried a leaden plate, on the one side of which were engraven the arms 
of France, and on the opposite, the following l^atin inscription: 

"Louis the Great reigns. Robert Cavalier, with Lord Tonti as lieutenant, 
K. J'. Zenobe Membre, Recollect, and 1went\-twii b'renchmen. hrst navi- 
gated this stream from the country of the Illinois, and also passed through its 
mouth, on the Qth of April, 1682."' 

Thus was completed the disco\-er\- and taking possession of the Missis- 
sip|)i \alley, and France liecame the rightful owner of all that section of the 
country known as such now, including the states of Illinois and Indiana — in 
fact all that country bounded on the east bv the Alleghanies and extending 
west to the Rocky mountains. Had France, with the same energy she ])ur- 
sued in discovering Louisiana, retained her gras]i upon this territory, the 
dominant race in the valley of the Mississippi would ha\e been (lallic instead 
of Anglo-Saxon. 

From this period until i6y8 the French made no further attemins to 
colonize the lower ^lississippi. Thev had no settlements below the Ohio, 
and above the Illinois river and in the lake regions they had only a chain of 
forts or posts. The next move on the part of France was to grant to Crozat 
in September, 1712, a monopoly on all the domain above described. Tliis 
grant was by Louis XIV, and Crozat failed after three years and, about 1717, 
surrendered his grant back to the King of France and the same year the 
King turned the possessions all over to "The .Mississijjpi Companv,'" later 
styled the "tYnnpany of the Indies." The head of this company was lohn 
Law. a famous Scotch banker, a regular "get-rich-quick" stvlc of a man. P.v 
this company, however signally it finally failed, it did colonize and till the --oil 
and erect forts and trading posts. It had its day .and in 1731 the Indies Com- 
pany surrendered to France, Louisiana, with its forts, plantations, colonies. 
etc., and from this time forward to the conquest of Great Britain the domain 
was governed by French appointed officers. France held possession to the 
country in (|ucstion until the Revolutionary struggle, which in\iil\eil the 
colonies and I'rance. as well as the sujiposed right of Indian tribes, .\fter 



44 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

hostilities had ceased between Great Britain and America, though the treaty 
of Paris was not concluded until February, 1783, the most essential parts of 
which are contained in the following extracts : 

"In order to establish peace on solid and durable foundations, and to 
remove forever all subjects of dispute with regard to the lines of the limits 
of the British and French territories on the continent of America, it is agreed 
that for the future the confines between the dominions of his Brittanic Ma- 
jesty and those of His Most Christian Majesty in that part of the world, 
shall be fixed irrevocably by a line drawn along the middle of the river Mis- 
sissippi from its source to the river Iberville, and from thence by a line drawn 
along the middle of the river and the lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain, to 
the sea ; and for this purpose the most Christian King cedes in full right, and 
guarantees to his Brittanic Majesty the river and port of Mobile, and every- 
thing which he possesses, or ought to possess, on the left side of the Missis- 
sippi, with the exception of the town of New Orleans and of the island on 
which it is situated it being well understood that the navigation of the Mis- 
sissippi shall be equally free, as well to the subjects of Great Britain as to 
those of France, in its whole length and breadth, from its source to the sea." 

With the termination of the Revolution, and the success of the American 
colonies, England had to yield its claim on this territory, and emigration com- 
menced pouring into the Northwest Territory, until it had become large 
enough in population to be divided into smaller territories. The act of Con- 
gress of the United States making such first division was dated May 7, 1800. 
and this subdivision included what is now the state of Indiana. 

FORMATION OF COUNTIES. 

In 1828 the general government purchased the "ten mile strip" along the 
northern end of the state, and in 1832 extinguished the remaining claims of 
the Indians, save the numerous reservations in the northern part. In 1835 
the greater part of the natives were removed west of the Mississip])i, and in 
1840 all save a few had emigrated from special resei-vations. As the state 
was thus left free for settlement, the surveyor pioneered the advancing civi- 
lization, and counties were rapidly organized in response to the growing de- 
mand of the increasing population. The tide of immigration came princi- 
pally from the South at first, and later from the East, the organization of 
counties giving a pretty clear indication of the nature of this development. 
At the organization of the state government, fifteen counties had been formed, 
and others were organized as follows: 181 7, Daviess. Pike. Jennings. Sul- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 45 

livan; 1818, Crawford, Dubois, Lawrence, Monroe, Randolph, Ripley, Spen- 
cer, Vanderburg, Vigo; 1819, P'ayette, Parke, Union; 1822, Decatur, Marion, 
Morgan. Putnam, Rush, Shelby; 1823, Hamilton, Johnson, Madison, Mont- 
gomery; 1824, Allen, Hendricks, Vermillion; 1825, Clay; 1826, Delaware, 
Fountain, Tippecanoe; 1828, Carroll, Hancock, Warren; 1829, Cass; 1830, 
Boone, Clinton, Elkhart, St. Joseph; 1831, Grant; 1832, LaGrange, LaPorte; 
1834, Huntington, White; 1835, Miami, Wabash; 1836, Adams, Brown, 
DeKalb, Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, Noble, Porter; 1837, Blackford. 
Lake, Steuben, Wells, Jay; 1838, Jasper; 1840, Benton; 1842, Whitley; 1844, 
Howard, Ohio, Tipton; 1850, Starke; 1859, Newton. 



CHAPTER 11. 

TXDI.W OCCUPANCY AND li XRRISON's TRAIL. 

At least twii races of men Iiad iiihal)ite<l I'arke and adjoining comities 
prior to the advent of white men — tlie red-brown sax'ages we style Indians, 
and the other, tliat mysterious type of men and women generally called 
Mound Builders, and of whom we know but little, save the fact that lliey 
preceded the red man and left great memorials in the shape nf nmunds, in 
which in many instances are found tools and im])]ements of (piite a high tvpe 
of civilization, much higher than those found among the Indian jjeojile when 
white men first visited this section. Parke count}', liowexer. was not so 
fa\-iirite a spot for the aliiding i)lace of this first race as was the countr\- along 
the Wabash and other streams, and in \'ernfillion county these numerous 
mounds stand out as bold and impressi\'e works of a peojile long since i)assed 
into death and olilivion. They were certainly a part of the great creation of 
man. liut as tri their manner of life, their as]iirations and achie\'ements and 
how the\- became extinct, not the slightest positive record has been left b\- 
them. However, those who have spent a lifetime in research claim that all 
evidence points to the fact that they originally came here from the far south, 
possiblv Central America; that thev were at least half civilized, and. fullnwing 
u]i the streams, liuilt well fortified tciwns along them and tilled the terraced 
lands and "second bottoms:" that ihe\- finally became in\Ml\ed in a great war 
with the natives of th's north land, and that the last of them left the Ohio 
and Mississippi \ alleys more than a thousand \ears ago. Certain it is that 
time enough has elapsed since their exodus for trees to grow u]) thriiugh the 
mounds they made and which are now more than four feet in diameter. 
Cop])er implements unknown to Indian life and mdnstrv are now and then 
unearthed ])y those in search of such relics. 1'lie next race to possess the 
territory included in Parke county w?as the North American Indian, six 
tribes at least of which, at: one time or another dwelt here. Their mfiform 
cotirse has been from north to south, rolling wave on wave, each in\'asion 
dri\-ing its predecessors before it. and all originating in the coninmn center 
of the great Northwest. The Athaliasca basin appears to be the great 
"northern hive'' from which many Indian tribes have swarmed. So far as 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 47, 

our knowledge goes the llliiii li'ihc were ilri\eu a\\a\- hy the Huri)n-lr(.)(|U()is. 
and tradition tells us that desiderate battles ensued l)et\veen these tribes along 
Sugar creek and the ri\er Wabash. Ne.xt in turn, came the great nation 
known as the Wabash, or the Miamis. Tiic I-'rcnch first met this ti'ibe in 
northern Iowa; thence they came, generatinn .iflcr generation farther south. 
dri\ing other nations Jiefore them; and as they came they divided themselves 
into three bands, the Weas, Miamis and Piankeshaws. The latter crossed 
the XA'abash early in the eighteenth century and had jjossession on both sides 
from Tippecanoe to the Oliic). These may I'iglu fully be styled our al)origines. 
for they and the original Miamis were the dominant trilie when the white 
race came here to remain. To these Indians came the French traclers and 
missionaries even jirior t(j 1700: posts were established, and it was not long 
before a mixed race arcjse known as the P'ranco-AHamis. and this was long 
before a vvord of English had ever been heard west of the Scioto. These 
Piankeshaws in 1705-12 iiad a \-illage on .Sugar creek, the stream ]\ them 
called Pun-go-se-co-ne ("Water of man_\- sugar trees"), and to that village 
came a young Frenchman quite early in that century, an account of which 
was ])ublished in 17 18 by the Catholic church. 

Xext came the bloodthirsty Pottawatomies. which trilif originated in 
the wooded wilderness of the Lake Huron district, and who 1)\- successi\-e 
struggles against other tribes finally succeeded, in 171)0, in reaching the lower 
Wabash. The Aliamis yielded them a share of their counti\-, rather than 
engage in a war of extermination. Pushed on ])v the Sioux nation, the 
Kickapoos swe])t down from the north and in 17()0 had a village north of 
the X'ermillion. and in the early daws were numerous on this side of the 
Wabash, though generally believed by pioneers to have been merelv squatters 
among the .Miamis. Xext came the Shaw nees. who were driven from Fake 
Erie by the lro(|uois and fought their wav ])v slow process to the bend of the 
Tennessee; thence, in turn, they were driven liy the Cherokees. when th<.v 
moved .southeast and settled in Florida. After one generation, thev a.gain 
started northward, in various bands; the main one ajipealed to the Miamis 
for succor, was received l)y them, and soon after was ])eriiianentl\- incor- 
porated among the Indi.ans of the Wabash. Shawnee creek and Prairie creek. 
in Fountain county, indicate one of their strongholds, but thev are really 
known liest to the whites from having produced the noted warrior TecuuLseh 
and liis brother, the Prophet. In all the negotiations with Governor Harrison, 
preceding the famous battle of Tippecanoe, all the other Indians insisted tliat 
the Shawnees were only squatters here and had no equal rights or title to 



g PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

lands here; and to this fact, perhaps, is due the strangely conglomerate char- 
acter of Tecumseh's confederacy. 

The Delawares were first found by the whites on Delaware bay, where 
they called themselves Lenni-Lennape, or -original men," but were called by 
the other Indians the Wau-pan-nek-ee, and recognized as the common ances- 
tors of the most powerful tribes of the south, including the Powhatan Indians 
and the Cherokees. As late as 1880, in the Indian Territory, this claim was 
recognized, and in the peculiar ranking of the tribes in council the Delaware 
sits as the grandfather. The Quakers made a treaty with them at the start 
and kept it; but all the same, the Indians lost their lands, and grew poor and 
hostile Thence they were pushed back, foot by foot, across the continent, 
till in 1799, a treaty bearing the signature of John Adams recognized them 
as owners of all Indiana between the White and Ohio rivers. They still fell 
back slowly, and from 1800 to 1820 were numerous in Parke county; but 
about the time our pioneers came they were concentrating near the middle of 
the state which was their last stronghold in Indiana. Among their chiefs 
who figured in this region was Captain Anderson. Such were the various 
tribes who contributed to form the Indian population of this valley, and 
thus it was that our pioneers saw individuals of all these tribes, the Pianke- 
shaw-Miamis being most numerous on Sugar creek and upper Raccoon, 
while the Weas and their conquerors were dominant along the W abash below 

Montezuma. 

"Such were our predecessors. Their names we know, their fate we 
know and something of their habits; but fancy strives in vain to portray the 
country as it looked to their eyes. The change has been too great for us. To 
see it as it was then is impossible. The traveler who now enters this county 
on either of our railroads is whirled along in soothing motion through sylvan 
scenes which disclose every moment a new beauty. Now from the car 
window he looks upon a neat village where, in happy homes, the fair little 
Saxons play in secured peace; now he looks upon a well-kept farm, its 
granaries full and its owner busy among his flocks and herds or in his well- 
tilled fields. Again he sees the open groves where blooded stock grazes m 
peaceful content: and yet again the dark green woods and open vista beyond 
which shows the home-like farm house, set in elegant shrubber>^ and sur- 
rounded bv the charming blue, grass. Here he sees the indications of a coal 
mine- there of a rock quarry and yonder other marks of an industrious race. 
And Lgain he passes for miles through gently rolling fields whence comes the 
scent of clover or new-mown hay, and is cheered by the rattle of the reaper 



■c 
> 

?3 








PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 49 

and the hum of laboring grangers. Not less does he see on every command- 
ing point the pretty white church with heavenward-pointing spire or the 
district school house, or more pretentious academy. 

"A hundred years ago how different the scene. An unbroken forest 
spread from north to south and from the eastern border to the small prairie 
which lines the Wabash below Montezuma. Along the highest land between 
the two Racoons ran an Indian trace from Weautanon, or Orchardtown 
(Terre Haute), to Ouiatenon. Down the Wabash came the light pirogue of 
the French-Canadian or the lighter canoe of the red man; and along the 
creeks the savages hunted or fished or idled away the long summer days. 
Sugar creek, from its source to its mouth, had witnessed maiiy a hard-fought 
battle between Indian tribes who contended for its possession, but now the 
Miamis band held it in peace. They found in its waters, alive with fish, an 
unfailing resource when game was scarce. From the mouth of the Leather- 
wood to the Wabash extended a straggling village of Wea-miamis, at the 
head of which in later years was a chief with an unpronounceable name whom 
the whites familiarly called Johnny Green. On Sugar creek, we know not 
exactly where, w as another village, and along Big Raccoon were a few small 
settlements, inhabited only in winter. Sugar creek through its upper course 
ran then, as now, between bold and rock bluffs, but no other creek in the 
county was anything like it is now. They consisted rather of long, deep 
ponds connected with shallow ripples, and Big Raccoon through much of its 
lower course had no defined channel. Beaver dams and immense drifts 
obstructed its course, and for miles in a place the stream extended almost 
from bluff to bluff, a long swamp with a slow current. Indeed, as late as 
1850, many of the creeks in this county had a more uniform volume of water 
in summer than now, and contained many long, deep pools joined by ripples ; 
and the Wabash remained navigable till late in the summer for Ohio steamers. 
None of the streams rose so suddenly, or so high as now, and none fell so 
low in the summer. The Waliash had at least twice the summer \olunK' it 
now has, and even such small streams as Mill creek. This was also true of 
Williams creek and Rock mn, each and all being good fishing runs and 
remained good mill streams till 1830-40. The rain fall of the year has not 
decreased, but it was then more evenly distributed in tiiue. The furthiT change 
is accounted for by the clearing of the land and the draining of the swamps, 
allowing the falling rains to discharge more rapidly. Such were a few of 
the features of the county a hundred years ago." — From the pen of J. II. 
Beadle. 

(4) 



50 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Thirty-five years afterward considerable change was already noticeable. 
Jacob, Swan and Bull, Wea. chiefs, ranged from Orchardtown ( Terre Haute) 
to Shawnee Prairie ; Stone-eater had his headquarters on or just above 
Sugar creek, and the Dazney Indians roamed over the Raccoon prairie and 
thence on to Fort Harrison. The soldier, the explorer and the hunter had 
become acquainted with the land, and the whites of more eastern localities 
looked toward this section for a home-building spot. Rev. Isaac McCoy, who 
preached the first gospel sermon in this green, glad solitude, had invaded this 
region. He was a Baptist missionary and came to the Wabash valley to 
preach to the Indians and white men, in 1817, preaching at points as far 
north as the Big Raccoon. In fact, it might be stated that he could have 
been considered the first white settler, for he was certainly here long enough 
to become a settler, legally. Early in 181 8 he made a location on land in 
the farm later owned and occupied by Mrs. Lawrence Cox. and he collected 
a few half-breed children and taught them English and religion. He learned 
the Indian dialect in order to better cope with the Catholic missionaries who 
spoke that language, especially among the Miamis. A few Christianized 
Indians came from Brothertown, New York, and assisted him. In 1819 Mr. 
McCoy married the first couple ever united in Parke county. His diary says : 

"On the i6th of February I joined in marriage Mary Ann Isaacs, of 
the Brothertown Indians, who had been spending a few weeks at our house, 
to Christmas Dashney, a half-breed Wea." 

Historian Beadle, so well known in Indiana, said of this faithful mis- 
sionary of the Cross : "Mr. McCoy continued his labors in this county till 
182.2-3: and his journal tells of struggle against struggle and continued dis- 
appointment: of loving care for converts demoralized bv the whiskv of white 
men; of toilsome journeys to Indian camps: of cold nights in the lonely 
woods; of shivering days in w-et brush; of insults and rebuffs: of hunger and 
foul weather. He was a gentleman of culture and of pleasing address, and 
soon learned to speak the Indian dialect fluently. He was assisted, now and 
then, by other teachers and preachers, including Mr. Martin and Johnston 
Lykens. With a large family he followed the Indians, even to Michigan, 
seeing them die off like sheep from the effect of white man's whisky. Thence 
he followed them to Indian Territory, alx^ut 1830, and saw the remnant of 
the tribe attached to the Cherokee nation. He had fought a long, hard fight 
and lost, as the world would say; he had attached himself to a dying race, 
and neither prayers nor tears nor much labor could arrest their ine\itable 
decav. Nav, the destinv of the race seemed even to his friends to be death ; 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 51 

one by one, he saw his ten children sicken and die, and in his old age, lonely 
and poor, he calls upon God to attest the rectitude of his intentions and save 
a few witnesses for him out of the many for whom he had toiled. And at 
the last he saw an Indian church formed on an apparently sure foundation 
in Oklahoma." 

It would seem that this was a part of God's great plan — the red man 
must needs become extinct and the higher race, the white, must perfect the 
plans of an All-wise Providence. If so, then God" will retrieve and make right 
all these seeming wrongs between the two races. In that other and eternal 
existence, such characters as Missionary Isaac McCoy and John Elliott, Las 
Casas and William Penn must be permitted to rejoice with the once sad 
victims of civilization, and go out to suffer no more for ever. 

After the period just named came the battle of Tippecanoe, in Novem- 
ber, 1811; then the war of 1812 with England. In October, 1818, the 
Indians signed the treaty of St. Mary's (Ohio), by which they ceded all of 
these lands north of the "ten o'clock line," except the "Sugar Creek Reserve," 
and early in 1819 William Polk surveyed the eastern portion of Parke 
county and ran tlie line of the Reser\'e, as "provided by law," completing 
his work in August. The eastern line of the reserve was not, however, 
cardinal ; it ran from Raccoon to Sugar creek in a line a little east of north, 
passing two miles west of Rockville. It was provided by law that this should 
remain a reserve, and the timber thereon be protected and the Indians 
guaranteed peaceable possession " until such time as the United States shall 
make further and permanent provision for the Confederated Weas and 
Miamis; provided, that Christmas Dazney, on account of important public 
services, shall be entitled in fee simple to one section of said reserve, to be by 
him selected." This section Mr. Dazney chose near Stringtown, as it was 
called, now Armiesburg, and old settlers a third of a century knew it as the 
Dazney farm. Thereafter the land below the line was known as Old Pur- 
chase, and that above as New Purchase ; nor was Sugar Creek Reserve for- 
mally opened to settlement till 1823. when William Bentley surveyed it into 
sections. 

On his way to Tippecanoe county, General Harrison, in 181 1, with 
nearly one thousand United States troops, crossed the Raccoon creek in 
\\'aliash townshii), this countw and camped for the night. 



52 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

THE GENERAL HARRISON TRAIL. 

When General Harrison left V'incennes in November, 1811, to proceed 
against the Indians in what is now Tippecanoe county, and which campaign 
resulted in the triumphant battle of Tippecanoe, on the morning of Novem- 
ber 7, 181 1, he took between eight and nine hundred soldiers of the United 
States army and marched under the guide and trust}' scout, Zachariah Cicutt. 
He entered what is now known as Mound township. Warren county, thence 
passed northward through Kent township, encamping first (in that county J 
in a small grove, and there on his return trip, after the battle, buried two or 
three soldiers who had been wounded at Tippecanoe. Their resting place is 
at what is now called Gopher Hill cemetery, about two miles to the southeast 
of State Line village. From that point the army resumed their march north- 
east and passed by the huge bowlder, which until recent years stood in the 
highway on the old Hunter farm, between sections 19 and 30, township 21, 
range 9 west. This was an immense granite bowlder and if it had not 
thoughtlessly been blasted and removed would doubtless today have a suitable 
inscription on its rustic surface, making a permanent landmark for all gen- 
erations to come, showing just where Harrison and his army passed. The 
second encampment in Warren county was made just across the Big Pine 
creek, east, and "about eleven miles from its mouth into river Wabash."' 
This is known now as "Army Ford," and there seems to be two theories as 
to where the army really did cross this creek, but the generally accepted one 
is that his crossing was made above where Honey creek comes into Big Pine 
creek, and in the center of section 9, township 22, range 8 west, on lands 
now owned by Scott Brier, a descendant of one of the first settlers, and who, 
with his neighbors, has always called this the crossing place of the army. It 
is in Liberty township. This seemed to be the belief of Judge Isaac Naylor, 
who wrote on this theme many years since, and he was with Cicott after the 
war of 181 2 and went over the trail and noted the camping places. 

The other theory (we give it for what it is worth) is that it was in the 
southwest quarter of section 4 in the same township and range, less than a 
mile to the northwest. But there seems little good evidence that this is correct. 

From that point — "Army Ford," where\-er that ma_\- have been — the line 
of march was taken up and pursued in a northeastern direction, directl\- to 
where the battle was fought in Tippecanoe county, passing through the 
corner of Pine township, diagonally northeast through Adams township, 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 53 

cutting the northwest corner of Medina lownship, thence on into 'iijipecanoe 
county. 

It should he added that on the march back from Tippecanoe to Vin- 
cennes, Harrison lost a man named Drummoml, who was buried near the 
camping place on Big Pine creek. Tlie grandsons of pioneer settlers re- 
member the grave well and frequently tell strangers of its loneliness, at an 
earlv day. This soldier, with probably the three buried at what is Gopher 
Hill cemeterv, were the only ones who died from wounds en route to Vin- 
cennes, and to their gra\-es there should ht placed an appropriate talilet or 
monument, either by Warren county or b\- the general government, the l)ra\e 
men certainly deser\-ing of such recognition, even at this late day. 

GEOLOGY OF PARKE COUNTY. 

Tarke county is based on a regular slope from east to west. Along the 
eastern border of the county the under-coal limestone crops out. Ix-ing the 
bed-rock of Big Raccoon at intervals for ten miles. Thence westward, then 
through what may well be styled the basin rock of the county, with a tolerably 
regular slope for fifteen to twenty feet to the mile, passing some distance 
under the bed of the \\'al)ash, and. as shown by borings made up to 1880, 
maintained the same westward slope to the Little Wabash ri\-er, under which 
it is found seven hundred feet deep. Beyond that it turns and comes up with 
the same regularity, again coming to the surface in western Illinois. .Assum- 
ing that this was the bed of the old river in which the coal was made, T'arke 
county lies along the east shore of what was the marsh in which the coal 
plant grew. The fossils, therefore, are all of the coal period — at least in the 
western part of this county. The huge reptiles and mammals lived in the 
ne.xt succeeding ages. The largest of these fossils now unearthed are a 
species of the "goose-necked lizard" and some detached bones of an 
American mastodon. As most of this county was filled with made or solid 
land before the coal period ended, it follows that all the rock-in-place is of 
the sandstone shale and lime-rock of the coal measures, but on that there is 
an immense .thickness of tlrift and the soil is from the wear of the crystalized 
Canadian rocks. For these reasons there is an inexhaustible fertility directly 
over immense beds of coal, with an abundance of good building stone and the 
finest of pure water from springs and wells. .\s the larger streams, in their 
passage across the county, have to cut down from the high le\'els of the lime- 
stone foundation to the level of the river Wabash, there appear wild, per- 
cipitous bluffs, presenting some of the finest scenery in all Indiana. 



CHAPTER III 

PIONEER SETTLEMENT OF PARKE COUNTY. 

The contents of this chapter are beheved to be substantially all that is 
necessary in order to give the reader a comprehensive account of the first 
settlement of what is now known as Parke county, Indiana. Xot that it 
contains in minute detail the circumstances surrounding the entry of land 
and settlement of each actual settler in pioneer days, but it is designed to give 
something in general of the pioneer band that located in various parts of the 
county, leaving much of detail for the different township histories. However, 
before entering into this task of outlining the first settlements in the county, 
it will be best to reproduce the views of Surveyor M. D. Buck, published in 
Brown's Gazetteer, in 1817, and also of the author of that work, after he had 
made a trip to the Wabash valley, Iroth of whom we here quote and inter- 
weave : 

"Rocky river (Sugar creek) is one hundred yards wide, at its mouth, 
and has several large forks The bottoms bordering the Wabash are rich : 
wells have been sunk in them that showed a vegetable soil twenty-two feet 
deep, though the ordinaiy depth is from two to five feet. All the streams 
have spacious and fertile bottoms. The prairies in the vicinity of Fort Har- 
rison exceed for beauty and richness everything I ever beheld. The land 
sells ver\' high near Fort Harrison, for it is the most delightful situation for 
a town on the Wabash. The Indians camp in the woods convenient to water, 
where they build wigwams. W^hile surveying in the wilderness they appeared 
very friendly, and offered us honey and venison. The woods abound with 
bears, wolves and wild turkeys. About three-eighths of the land we sur- 
veyed is excellent for most kinds of produce; the remainder is good for 
grazing, but too hilly, flat or wet for grain (' !) Wheat grows rank, but the 
grain is not as plump as in New York. The difficulty is, the land is too rich 
until improved ( !) Apple trees bear every year. Wheat is seventy-five 
cents a bushel. Flour is three dollars per hundred — four dollars delivered at 
Fort Harrison; pork four dollars; beef, the same; butter and cheese, one to 
two shillings. European goods exorbitantly high. Ginseng grows on the 
bottoms to a perfection I never witnessed. Harrison's Purchase was first 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 55 

opened for sale at Jcffersonville, in September last [1816J, and numerous 
tracts sokl at fmrn tour to thirty dollars per acre. .\ sectiun on the W'aljash 
below Fort Harrison [now Terre HanteJ sold at thirty-two dollars and eigh- 
teen cents per acre. The best proof of the excellence of these lands is the 
fact of their being the scene of numerous Indian population. Serpents are very 
numerous. Deer are mortal enemies of the rattlesnakes and often kill them 
by jumping upon them. It is also reported that the turkey buzzard has the 
power of killing the rattlesnake by its intolerable stench, which it most pow- 
erfully emits by a violent fluttering in the air a little above the snake's head." 

To definitely locate and name the first actual white settler in this county 
is now impossible. It is, however, known that the Dotys, Henrys and others 
had come up to the line of the Old Purchase at least as early as 1818, possibly 
1817. It is known that James M. Doty settled on Henry's prairie in 1818, 
and is by many called Parke county's first settler. At about the same date 
came Judge Joseph Walker, who settled in what is now Florida township, 
near the present town of Numa. William D. Mitchell, so long and well known 
in Union township, was born in Raccoon in 1818, just after his parents ar- 
rived there. Mrs. Peggy Miller, whose maiden name was Robinson, came to 
Fort Harrison with her parents in 181 5, and was always sanguine that they 
moved into Parke county in 1818. James Kerr bought land in this county at 
the very earliest sales, either 1816 or 1817; but did not settle permanently 
till i82_'. His wife always claimed that her family located in Parke county 
in 1818. Many more claim that Dr. Taylor was the first permanent pioneer 
settler in the county, on the upper end of Henry's Prairie, and early in 18 17 
or i8t8. The true first settler will never be known, as no record was made 
of the coming of several families, all of whom constituted the first l)and of 
pioneers. It was certainly from among the families already mentioned. 

Among .the strong men who followed up the army and studied the coun- 
try, was Capt. Andrew Brooks, Indian agent, trader and interpreter. He 
made numerous trips from Fort Harrison northward ; whether on the prairies 
of the southwestern border of Parke county or in the dense woods in the 
center of the county, he everywhere noted the local advantages; especially 
did he scan the localities favorable for a good mill site, and as early as 181 7 
Tpossibly 1818) he set his eye on the blufif at the south bend of Big Raccoon. 
A year or so passed before he found a partner with capital sufficient to im- 
prove this water power, but fortunately he fell in with Chauncey Rose, at 
Fort Harrison, who became known as a distinguished pioneer and philan- 
thropist. He was born December 17, 1794, in Weathersfield, Connecticut, and 



56 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

when twenty-two years of age came to Indiana, reaching Fort Harrison 
(Terre Haute) early in 1817. An elder brother settled in Carolina, and 
advanced him some capital, and he had already shown his ability to acquire 
more, when he met Captain Brooks. They were kindred spirits and. together 
with Moses Robins, formed a partnership to establish a mill, store and dis- 
tillery on Big Raccoon. _ \Miile the snow was yet on the ground they left 
Fort Harrison, in company with a friendly Indian, made their way to the 
locatiun selected, and early in 1819 broke ground for a mill and named the 
place Roseville. 

About this time there were many of the shiftless, roaming type of men 
and women who came in and remained, as in all new countries, for a few 
years and then passed on to newer, wilder sections where they might mingle 
with the Indians, hunt, fish and trap, and not be held in obedience to any civil 
law or custom. But of these settlers no account will here be made, as they 
were not in any sense county or state builders, but nomadic in style and habits. 

^Meanwhile the business enterprise of the firm of Rose. Robins & Brooks 
had been completed and was running in full blast in 1819-20. The Indians 
came in from far and near to exchange their furs and meat for flour and 
whisky. Soon a second store was opened by Scott & Linton. Now came in 
a better, more stable class of settlers and made claim to much (^f tlie fine 
farming lands in the county. Just who was first to locate in the northern 
part of the county, no one seems able to tell, but certainly in 1819 there were 
several families, and in 1820 the following located in Florida and Raccoon : 
Judge Joseph Walker, James Henry and his fixe sons. John. James. Richard, 
Moses and \Mlliam; John Doty, Samuel Adams. \\'illiam Xevins and Jacob 
Bell. John Adams, David Evans and Boston Derr were the first to locate in 
the forks of the Raccoon. William Rea was first to locate on Little Raccoon, 
aljove the forks: he came in 1820 to the northwest corner of section 7. in 
Raccoon township, not far from the present town of Catlin. John Sunder- 
land soon came in, as did Caleb ^^'illiams and Henry Greer. Many of these 
pioneers came in before the land w^as actually opened for settlement, and 
abided their time. The first land sales did not take place above the "ten 
o'clock line" until 1820, and in the fall of that year, too. The records show 
that among the earliest to purchase lands here were : James Buchanan and 
Mr. Gilkinson. fathers of Alexander Buchanan and John C. Gilkinson, Esq., 
and they bought, at Terre Haute, the same land on which their sons lived 
so many long years. Joseph Ralston came to Parke count\' in 1819 and 
settled near Kerr's springs, on Big Raccoon. He cut the date on an immense 
beech tree, and it remained legible for full forty years. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 57 

Among the settlers north of the creek, and south of the Hue, were 
Dempsey Seybold. Dr. Taylor, John I'rince, Samuel Prince, John Morrow 
and members of the Doty, Henry and Robinson families. These men all 
reared good sized and highly sturdy, intelligent families and Ijccame masters 
of the situation in after years in the development of Parke county. 

Major Ambrose Whitlock, government surveyor, reported his work 
finished in the New Purchase in the summer of 1820, after which a great 
immigration set in. from \^incenncs and Terre Haute, settling up the valley 
of the Wabash to a goodly extent ; the Raccoon and its branches all gave up 
their virgin lands to settlers and permanent home-seekers. The paths, traces 
and blazed trails were alive with land-hunters and explorers ; Indians, 
traders, hunters and speculators, on foot and horseback, \\ ere all hunting out 
locations for themsel\-es. The year 1S21 saw a wonderful addition to the 
pioneer settlement in Parke and Vermillion counties. Perley Mitchell made 
the first entry in Penn township, in the Sugar creek and Walnut groves aboxe 
Leatherwood. The rush lasted until the autumn of 1822, after which the 
advent of pioneers was more even and moderate. They had a little imder- 
standing among themselves as to bidding on land, and if an outsider ])re- 
sumed to over-bid them, he was usually instructed bv "persuasion," generally 
heeded, to "move on." 

In the fine autumn days of 1822 — ninety years ago — the father of 
Squire Glass, John Glass, arrived on the Raccoon and halted a few days at 
the home of Reuben Webster, who had been a settler for two vears on the 
creek about three miles below Bridgeton. There, in two weeks, Mr. Glass 
lost a fine mare, seven sheep and a valuable dog, all with milk-sickness. Tliis 
was a common thing in early days. Then, too, the pioneer band had to 
struggle with the fever and ague for a number of years. Some could not 
withstand it and returned to the East, from whence they had emigrated. 
Many who sought lands at Terre Haute in the fall of that year were unable 
to secure the coveted lands in the bottoms, but as it turned out it was a stroke 
of good fortune for them, for they found the uplands and timbered sections 
to be even more valuable as the years passed by. [Messrs. Glass, Jacoli Miller, 
John Miller, and Thomas Woolverton started for Montgomery county, where 
there was already a good sized Kentucky settlement, but early in the day they 
chanced to meet a solitary horse-hunter who told them of a "mighty fine 
strip of black walnut land just about the divide between the two creeks." 
They went on and were charmed by its appearance, and ere the sun went di^w n 
the next day they had selected lands in that favored sjjot. This was the 



58 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Opening of the New Discovery, as James Kelsey called it from this circum- 
stance, and as it is still known. Then began another great land-hunter's rush. 
These settlers did not see the well cultivated section that cheers and charms 
the passerby of today. All was one vast wild forest land, obstructed with 
tanglewood and thicket. In every fertile spot the peavine grew in tangled 
masses, cropped by the cattle, which frequently fattened upon this wild food 
alone. Elsewhere the spicewood choked the glade, while on the southern 
slopes and black-soiled bottoms the pawpaw thickets yielded up their sweets 
in great abundance. In many places the tangled woods were impassable, and 
the first settlers were sometimes days in cutting away the brush and trees in 
order to gain an entrance to the spots they had chosen for erecting their 
cabins. One writer says: "'The Linn thicket, which now contains a good area 
of the best land in the county, was navigable for ducks from the spring thaw, 
often as late as July first. By following the windings of low lands, a goose 
could have swum across a township in many seasons. But there were some 
compensations. Game was, of course, plenty, though beef and pork were called 
a luxury. An occasional bear was still found; a few wild-cats lingered in the 
bottoms; deer and turkeys were on every hand abundant, and squirrels of all 
kinds thick enough to be a nuisance to farmers. Coons, 'possums, foxes, 
ground-hogs and wolves were common ; the ugly looking porcupine was now 
and then found, and birds were twenty times as numerous as nowadays, and 
their songs were never sweeter." 

The old Indian trace from Fort Harrison to Fort Wayne bore north- 
east from the head of Henry's Prairie, keeping on the divide between the 
Big and Little Raccoon, and it was soon beaten into a road by eager home- 
seekers. By the middle of the summer of 1823 Abel Ball, John Jessup, Henry 
Nevins, Joseph Wilkinson, Silas Harlan, John Blake, Nathan Blake, Charles 
Woolverton, John Burford, Benjamin Walters, Constantine Curry, Clem B. 
Burton, and probably twenty more, had settled in New Discover)-; and liefore 
the cold weather set in, there might have been seen a line of comfortable 
cabins and clearings even as far as Crawfordsville. May 13. 1823, there came 
a great time of excitement at the land office located at Crawfordsville. It 
was for the first pick of land; horses were run to death, men rode day and 
night in storms, swam swollen streams, and risked their own lives in many 
curious devices -to reach the land-office first or outwit a rival. The "witness 
trees" were well known, as the survey Avas but recent, and the man who first 
threw down the "numbers" on the counter and announced his claim got the 
land. In 1824-5 the Hollandsburg neighborhood was filled, and it is stated 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 59 

that in October, 1825, not a single piece of lirst class land remained nntaken 
between there and Crawfordsville. Later, the lands were not bought and 
sold so readily, but it was soon found that many who took up the Linn 
thicket lands had made no mistake, for they proved rich and valuable. In 
passing, it should be said that after the first decade or so, while the virgin 
soil was being turned up to the sun's hot rays, especially in the autumnal 
months of each recurring year, things went well with the settlers, but during 
this first period of their sojourn here the fever and ague did great mischief 
and afllicted every family and sometimes eveiy member of the household. 
By reason of this, great suffering had to be endured, for it is said that in that 
sickness people "want to die, but can't." But after the lands were broken 
up a few years, the decaying underbrush burned and the land with sluggish 
pools of water had been drained out, the country was one of beauty and enjoyed 
by a happy band of sturdy pioneers, who became the grandfathers and fathers 
of the generation just now passing. Indeed, these pioneers builded far better 
than they knew, and this the twentieth century is enjoying the fruits of their 
toils and self-sacrifices. 

"We love best the man that dares to do — 
The moral hero, stalwart through and through, 
■^'ho treads the untried path, evades the rut; 
Who braves the virgin forest, builds a hut. 
Removes the tares encumbering the soil. 
And founds an empire based on thought and toil." 



CHAPTER I\'. 

ORGANIZATION AND COUNTY GON'ERNMENT. 

The tliiid Legislature of the state of Indiana, by an act approved Janu- 
ary 9, 1821, at the then capital of the state, Corydon. organized Parke county, 
with what is now known as Vermillion county attached as a civil township 
for \-arious purposes. The same day the Governor appointed Capt. Andrew 
Brooks sheriff, t(j serve until an election could be held, and James Blair 
coroner. On March 27th Dempsey Seyljold and Joseph Walker were ap- 
pointed associate judges for the new county and Wallace Ray as clerk and 
recorder. May 30th John Skidmore and Joseph Ralston were commissioned 
justices, and all these were to act until after an election, William Clark was 
also appointed resident surveyor, but did not qualify, and Stephen Collett 
was appointed and served in his place. The first election for the new 
county was fixed for the first Monday in August, 182 1, when tlie polls were 
o|:)ened at the house of Richard Henry, on Henry's prairie, just ali(i\e the 
county line. Judge Seybold and 'Squire Ralston (irganized the i)iill. Judge 
James Barnes acted as judge of the election, and what hajipened in way of 
trouble is briefly narrated elsewhere in this volume. 

At the date above mentioned the county was supposed to have a \-oling 
population of four hundred, and commissioners were sent to locate a perma- 
nent county seat. This commission was made up of Gen, Joseph Orr, Gen, 
Artluu- Patterson and Col. Thomas Smith, the la.st named later becoming the 
well-known Indian agent. There were here, as in all new counties, a rivalry 
as to who should secure the countv seat. The commissioners were e\'idently 
well and favorably impressed with the Buchanan vicinity, near the jiresent 
town of Judson, but were urged to visit Thomas Gilkeson's jilace, nn tlie 
Raccoon, before deciding. While at his place the commissioners were in\-ited 
by Messrs. Ray, Hand and Simmons to visit another spot, which brought 
them up at Ray's tavern, in what is now Rock\-ille, on a dark, gloomy morn- 
ing early in the month of February, 1824. The commissioners were wet, 
weary and miserably fatigued, but were royally entertained by Mr. Ray, the 
landlord. Just what inducements were offered, aside from the steaming 
breakfast of which they all partook freely, none can conjecture, but before 



PARKE AND VERMII.IION COUNTIES. INDIANA. ' 6l 

another twenty-four hours had rolled around, the county seat of I'arke county 
was located at Rockville, and to seal the act a bottle of aged whisky was 
properly emptied, after which the bottle was broken upun the big rock on the 
highest point of the site, and thus was legally baptized the to\\n-lo-l)e, the ■ 
county seat, Rockville. 

The temporary seat of county go\erninent, howe\er. had l)een at Rose- 
\-ille first, and next at Armiesburg, and two courts had been held at the last 
named place, at least. The county seat was permanently hxed at Rockville 
in 1822. No buildings suitable for the offices and court were provided, how- 
ever, until 1824. Sixty votes were cast at the first election in this county, 
that of 182 1. There was only one voting precintt. The county clerk's office, 
with the records, was burned in the fall of 1832, and an act of the Legislature 
made the justices of the peace county commissioners. The hrst board meet- 
ing after the fire of 1832 was in January, 1833, at which they ordered re- 
pairs and a reproduction of the county records, as far as it was possible. 
In 1844, the law was changed and from then on the county commissioners 
were elected instead of appointed. The first board was Tobias Miller, James 
W. Beadle and Nathan Evans. 

COUNTY GOVERNMENT. 

In spite of the fact that the law for the formation of Parke county re- 
quired Uie erection of necessary public buildings within twelve months after 
the location of the county seat, none were begun until two years afterward. 
A court house and jail w-ere finished in June, 1826. The court house was a 
spacious log structure, built on the south side of the present public square, 
and served the double use of a house of worship and a temple of justice 
until it w^as superseded by the brick court house and the brick school house. 
The old jail served until 1858, when it was burned, but in reality it had been 
unfit for a public building for several years before its final destruction. The 
jail, which was also built of logs, stood on lot No. 59, just across the rail- 
road track and to the northwest of where later stood the old brick jail. Pio- 
neer Ray donated forty acres to the county, on which the public square and 
business houses are located today, and his partner. Hand, ga\e twenty acres, 
and Patterson and McCall, the other town site founders, gave tweiUy acres. 
It should l)e recalled that in the beginning, Andrew Ray, Aaron Hand and 
James McCall joined in conveying one hundred acres of land to Parke county. 
This was conditioned on the permanent location of the seat of justice at 
Rockville, a deed over which there was nuich litigation in after vears when 



62 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

the people sought to remove the seat of justice to Bloomingdale. Thomas 
Smith, one of the commissioners to locate the county seal, was also ap- 
pointed by the governor to lay out and properly plat the newly located count>' 
town, which he at once proceeded to execute. The last of April he began to 
advertise, and June i6 and 17, 1824, cried the sale of lots in Rockville. He 
sold on commission plan and almost "cried" in reality over the few lots sold 
and the very low prices which he was compelled to sell them for. Lot No. i, 
on the northeast corner of town, was sold to James Strain, Sr. The county 
officers soon removed to "town" and three or four lawyers, of which it is 
related many believed young Joseph Van i\Ieter was the brightest, but it ap- 
pears he never made good in the great conflict of life and was never heard of 
save for a short sojourn here. 

VARIOUS COURT HOUSES AND JAILS. 

Parke county's first court house was the rude, but good sized, log struc- 
ture built in 1826, which served until 1829, when a contract was let to 
Matthew Stewart, against great opposition, to build a new court house. 
County orders were worth only fifty cents on a dollar, and it was thought the 
whole county would soon become bankrupt. But the wheels of time revolved 
and the brick court house was completed in 1832, and served the county until 
1879, when it was torn down by Isaac McFaddin. The old brick jail, built 
at that time, ser\ed (longer than it ought to have been tolerated) until 1858, 
when it was burned. The picture of the old brick court house shows it to 
have been a good structure for its day and served well the uses for which it 
was originally intended. 

On December 3, 1878, the county auditor was authorized to atlvertise 
for plans for a new court house and a jail. These bids were opened January 
29, 1879. and there were found to be fifteen of them. It took until March 
20th to settle the question of which plans were the best and most acceptable. 
Those furnished by T. J. Tolan & Son, of Fort Wayne, were selected and an 
order issued causing bonds to be floated in the sum of $100,000 to meet the 
payments on such public buildings. Then bids were asked for the construc- 
tion of the proposed buildings. On May i, 1879, the bids were opened and 
it was found that the highest bid was that of $78,250 and the lowest was 
$68,800, but the lowest bidder could not furnish sufficient bonds and it was 
awarded to the next lowest bid, of $68,900, which was that of William H. 
Myers, who, it was later found out, was a relative and co-worker with the 



PARKE AND VERMII.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 63 

iron company aiul the architect of l'"ort Wayne. L'nder this contract made 
by the connty board and Myers, the work i)rocec(led until the autumn of 1880, 
when he had collected more from the county, really, than was his due, and a 
difficulty arose, the result of which was that Myers abandoned the work and 
the county went ahead, under a superintendent, George W. Collings. and 
finished the buildings. Myers had been paid $58,836.07 when he quit. The 
cornerstone was laid September 11, 1879, under Masonic rites. This stone 
bears the following inscription: "County Commissioners, Zachariah Byers, 
Mahalon M. Marshall, William Carmichael. John B. Connelly, Auditor. T. 
J. Tolan & Son, Architects. W. H. Myers, Builder. September 11, 1879." 

It now appears that the two dates found over the north entrance — "1879- 
80" — is a mistake. The building w"as not completed in 1880, but in 1882. 
It is supposed that Myers, the contractor, had these stones cut and intended 
to complete the court house by sometime in 1880, as contracted for, and for 
some unknown reason this "1880" stone was allowed to be placed in the front 
wall — possibly the work had progressed as far as the setting of this stone 
before the contractor Myers quit. The court house cost the county in round 
figures $110,000, with heating plant. The Ijrick jail, on the opposite side of 
the square, cost about ten thousand more. Both are still in good condition 
and fine buildings. The court house is a fine stone structure, of fine styled 
architecture and modern in most of its appointments. A splendid clock and 
bell were added later, costing about $1,500. The final day of dedication 
was at hand and, despite the bad weather, the assembly was very great. It 
was on Washington's birthday, February 22, 1882. S. D. Puett was chair- 
man of the day. Exercises opened by singing "Praise God From Whom All 
Blessings Flow." Rev. W'. Y. Allen then read the Ten Commandments and 
offered prayer. Hon. Thomas N. Rice was orator of the occasion, and 
speeches were made by others, on "The Bench and Bar," and also on the 
county officials, past and present. The president of the day was Col. E. M. 
Benson; vice-presidents, Zachariah Byers, William Carmichael, M. W. Mar- 
shall. O. P. Brown. J. D. Collings, George ^Mater. Numerous speeches were 
made during the forenoon, afternoon and evening. 

Within the corner-stone of the present court house were deposited, 
under direction of the Masonic lodge that had charge of the stone-laying, 
these articles: A copy of the by-laws and historical records of Parke Lodge 
No. 8, and of No. 37 ; various papers belonging to the various lodges and 
societies in Parke county ; also a history of the lodge known as Silliman 
Lodge of Knights of Pythias, with its charter, and those of the Masonic and 



64 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Odd Fellows lodges; a list of all lodges in the county; copies of the Rockville 
papers, including that of the Tribune of September ii, 1879, Rockville Re- 
publican of September 10, 1879, the Monfcaiitna Era; blank notes of the First 
National Bank; small quantities of grain of each variety grown in Parke 
county; postage stamps of all denominations; American and foreign coins; 
business cards of the business men of Rockville: brief account of the old 
court house, with a photograph of the building; names of county commis- 
sioners: photograph of the residence of A. K. Stark, and other objects of 
historic interest; statistics of Parke county for 1878 and a copy of the inter- 
esting address of Dr. Thomas Rice, on the occasion of corner-stone laying. 

FINANCES OF P.\RKE COUNTY. 

The receipts and expenditures of Parke county for the }ear ending June 
I, 1855, ^^'e:Te as follows: Receipts, from show licenses, $50: county revenue 
for 1854, $10,341; township ta.x for 1854, $2,534; road tax collected for 
1854, $160; cost of printing, $265; other items, making a total of $13,569. 
The expenditures for the same period were: Keeping the poor, $1,347; 
assessing revenue, $545; county officers, $2,427; cost of printing, $320; 
keeping prisoners, $355; books and stationery, $238; bailiffs' fees, $316; jury 
fees, $785; insane persons, $49; public buildings, $250; fuel, $13; election 
expenses, $17; bridges, $2,015; township tax, $2,534; road tax, $120: total, 
$11,753. Total of the county's receipts were, that year, $13,569. 

In the month of February, 1912, the treasurer's books showed the fol- 
lowing exhibit in the funds in the county : 

Disbursed. Oh Hand. 

County Revenue $ 58,522 $17,946 

Principal, Common 6,896 2,168 

Congressional 1,348 173 

Endowment 1,275 ^8 

Interest, Common , 2,664 -45 

Congressional 2,086 643 

Endowment 374 360 

Fines and Forfeitures 615 180 

Bonds for construction gravel roads 37,946 37,098 

Redemption of Gravel road bonds 57-753i 9,302 

Show License 20 

Liquor License 4,000 

Township Tax 14.992 2,443 




OLD FAHKK COl'NTY COURT HOUSE. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 65 

Local Tuition $ 52,705 $ 9,334 

Special School 59,260 11,095 

Road 7,363 71 

Common School Revenue 30-635 891 

Library 146 4 

Special School Building 4-125 79 

Corporation 8,493 "^ 

Water Works 2,034 

Electric Lights 2,127 34 

Cemetery 233 13 

Clay Plant 618 11 

Park 102 6,892 

Gravel Road Repairs 23,125 

Totals $387,190 $99>332 

The above serves to show many things connected with the county at this 
date — the schools, gravel roads, fines and general financial affairs. 

ASSESSED VALUATION, I912. 

The following shows the personal and real estate assessed valuations by 
townships and corporations: 

Adams Township $1,250,500 Howard Township $ 438,025 

Washington Township — 907,760 Rockville (Corporation)-- 1,058,600 

Sugar Creek Township 354,395 Marshall (Corporation) 164,810 

Liberty Township 812,110 Montezuma (Corporation) 420,888 

Reserve Township 718,235 Rosedale (Corporation)-- 315,010 

Wabash Township 787,555 Diamond (Corporation)-- 68,930 

Florida Township 1,324,155 Bloomingdale (Corpora- 
Raccoon Township 958,720 tion) 181,945 

Jackson Township 496,520 Judson (Corporation) 28,010 

Union Township 838,630 

Greene Township 1,005,580 

Penn Township 617,775 Total $12,798,240 

THE PARKE COUNTY ASYLUM. 

Be it said to the credit of Parke county, that it has never had a great 
burden on account of its unfortunate poor, and for this expense the people 

(5) 



66 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

ha\e ne\er given of taxes begrudgingly. For many years after the organiza- 
tion of the county each township looked after its own paupers, but of more 
recent years the system of caring for such charges has been changed to what 
in IntHana is stxled a county asylum, located near the county seat, where con- 
venient buildings, and a farm which is nearly self-supporting is employed for 
the safe and humane keeping of those who by reason of old age or misfortune 
have been thrown upon the people for support. The present superintendent 
of this institution in Parke county, E. AI. Carter, reported in May, 1912, that 
the asylum then had twenty-two inmates, mostly men, too aged for work. 
During the three months just before the 30th of last May, thirty-four persons 
had been admitted to this asylum and twelve had been discharged from it. 
At that date there was on hand in the fund for the maintenance of the institu- 
tion, $148.80, and $197.90 had been paid out at the asylum in the quarter 
ending when such report was filed with the county auditor. Hence it will be 
seen that there are not many paupers within the county's charge, and that no 
ta.x-payer is heavily burdened on their account. Indeed most everyone feels 
it a duty and pleasure to aid in making life comfortable to these few un- 
fortunates. 

Sometime prior to the Civil war, the county deemed it wise to purchase 
a farm near the county seat, and there care for her poor. This was carried 
out and a building erected less than three miles from the court house. This 
5er\-ed until the present thirty-thousand-dollar buildings were constructed. 
Here every care possible is taken of the unfortunate inmates. The property 
is looked after by the superintendent, under the watch-care of the county com- 
missioners. 

EARLY LAW BREAKERS. 

An early term of Parke county court indicted six persons and fined them 
for gaming; six for profane language; one for retailing spirituous liquors: one' 
for giving a friend whisky at camp-meeting; two for illegal \oting. At an- 
other term, twenty-four men were indicted and fined from one to ten dollars 
for betting small amounts "just to make it more interesting.'' 



CHAPTER V. 



COUNTY AND OTHER OFFICIALS. 



Owiiii;; to the disastrous fire of November, 1832, many of the early rec- 
ords of this county were destroyed, hence there are some facts lacking con- 
cerning the election, appointment and terms of the early-day pnl)lic officials, 
but the ftillowing is almost a complete list of those who ha\-e served, and in 
the order in which they were elected or appointed to office: 

STATE REPRESENTATIVES. 



i8j3 — Thomas Blake. 

1825 — Joseph M. Hayes. 

* * * * 

1835 — General George K. Steele. 

1843 — James Kerr. 

1845-6 — William R. Nof singer. 

1848 — John J. Meacham. 

1849 — Samuel H. Johnston. 

1850 — Gabriel Houghnian. 

1851— E. S. Holladay. 

1852 — George K. Steele. 

1854 — Levi Sid well. 

1856 — George K. Steele. 

1858 — Samuel H. Johnston. 

i860 — George G. Grain. 

1862 — Col. Casper Budd. 

1864 — Thomas N. Rice. 

1866— Walter C. Donaldson. 



1868 — James T. Johnston. 
1870-72 — John E. Woodard. 
1874-76 — Daniel Thomas. 
1878— Robert Kelly. 
r88o — Ira H. Gillum. 
1882 — William Knowles. 
1884— William X. Aiken. 
1886-88— George Hobson. 
189Q-92 — Jeremiah Morris. 
1894-96 — Albert Al. Adams. 
I S96-98— Albert M. Adams. 
1898-1900 — Elias H. Owens. 
1900-04 — Elias H. Owens, died. 

— John R. Johnston. 
1904-06 — John R. Johnston. 
• 1908 — Jacol) S. White. 
19 10 — Jacob S. White. 
1912 — George ^^'. Spencer, Jr. 



COUNTY CLERKS. 



1 82 1 -1 833 — Wallace Rea. 
1833 — Joseph Potts. 
1833-50 — John G. Davis. 



1850-51 — ^Joseph B. Cornelius. 
1851-60 — George W. Thompson. 
J 8(x3-68— Samuel Magill. 



68 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 



1868-76— John F. D. Hunt. 
1876-84 — David Strause. 
1884-88 — Madison Keeney. 
1888-92— Jesse H. McCoy. 
1892-96 — Isaac L. Wimmer. 



1896-1900 — John E. Harshbarger. 
1900-04 — Charles D. Renick. 
1904-08 — Ewing Chapman. 
1908-12 — George L. Laney. 
19 1 2- — Randolph J. Cummings. 



SHERIFFS. 



1 82 1- — Captain Andrew Brooks. ' 1872- 

1824- — Henry Anderson. 1874- 

1825-7 — Isaac J. Sillman. 1878- 

1827-31— William T. Noel. 1882- 

1833- — John G. Davis. 1886- 

1833-37 — William Kilgore. 1890- 

1837-41 — Aaron Hart. 1894- 

1841-45 — James Youman. 1896- 

1845-49 — Gabriel Honghman. 1898- 

1849-53 — James W. Beadle. 1900- 

1853-57 — David Kirkpatrick. 1902- 

1857-61 — Abraham Darroch. 1904- 

1861-65 — George B. Inge. 1906- 

1865-7 — James Phelon. 1908- 

1867- — Jesse Partlow. 1910- 

1867-72 — Nerval W. Cummings. 191 2- 



74 — Christian Steinbaugh. 
78 — George B. Chapman. 
82 — Zimri D. Maris. 
86 — John R. Musser. 
90 — Ed. Nicholas. 
94 — George S. Jones. 
96— William D. Mull. 

— Barton W. Dooley. 
• — Perry E. Benson. 

— Perry E. Benson. 

— T. E. Aydelotte. 

■ — E. M. Carter. 
— E. M. Carter. 

— Robert J. Finney. 

■ — Robert J. Finney. 

— Edward D. Nicholas. 



COUNTY RECORDERS. 



The 

office of 
till 1848. 

1821-33- 

1833 - 
1833-34- 

1852 - 

1853-57- 
1857-65- 
1866 - 



county clerk ex-officio was recorder until 1833, when the separate 
recorder was created. It was changed again to a combined office 



-\Vallace Rea. 
-James G. Davis. 
-Duncan Darroch. 

-Joseph B. Cornelius. 
-Samuel Fisher. 
-F. W. Dinwiddle. 
-Tames I\[. Thomas. 



1870-74 — Elwood Hunt. 
1874-82— William J. White. 
1882-90 — Henr)? B. Cord. 
1891-98 — Charles E. Lambert. 
1898-06 — Daniel J. Chapin. 
1906-12 — Carl Rutter. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 69 

COUNTY AUDITORS. 

Prior to August 9, 1841, the work devolving on what is now the auditor 
was laid upon the duties of the county clerk. 

1841-58 — Joseph Potts. 1886-94 — Samuel T. Catlin. 

1858-62— L. A. Foote. 1894-98— Elias H. Owen. 

1862-66 — George P. Daly. 1898-02 — Stephen A. Pike. 

1866-74— -John H. Tate. 1902-06 — Henry Guhb. 

1874-82 — Jesse B. Connelly. 1906-10 — PI. A. Henderson. 

1882-86 — Edwin F. Hadley. 1910 — ^James E. Elder. 

COUNTY TREASURERS. 

The sheriff collected all taxes from the l)eginning of the county govern- 
ment down to 1833. when the office of treasurer was established. 

1833 —Hugh J. Bradley, 1880-84— James ^'• McCami)hell. 

1834-8 —Austin M. Puitt. 1884-88— Isaac A. Pickard. 

— Erastus M. Benson. 1888-90 — James X. Dinwiddie. 

1841-1859 — Aaron Hart, Miles Hart, 1891-93 — X. W. Cummings. 

Samuel Hart, Charles 1893-96 — Moses T. Kelly. 

(irant and John R. 1896-98 — Thomas D. Byers. 

Miller, 1898-1900 — \Villiam Rawlings. 

1839-63 — Washington lladley, 1900-04 — George Bronson. 

1873-67 — John T. Cam]il)ell. 1904-06 — Edward Bradfield. 

1876-72 — John H. Lindley. 1906-08 — Edward Bradfield. 

1872-76 — X', W. Cummings, 1908-12 — George W, Spencer, 
1876-80— F. \V. Dinwiddie. 

CORONERS. 

Among the coroners who have served in i'arke county may he given these: 

182 1-5 — Truman Ford. 1837-39 — William M. Brooks. 

1825 — James Nesmith. 1839-43 — James J. Roberts. 

1827 —Stephen Idemming. 1844-45 — Hugh S. Comingore. 
1831-33— Samuel H. Johnston. —Randall H. Burk. 

— Charles Nugent. 1846-49 — Solomon Pinegar, 

1835-37— Hugh J- Bradley. 1849 —Johnson S. White. 



70 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 



Others — Christopher Hensel, Mat- 
thew Gilkeson, Daniel 
Mater, John Alexander, Ed. 
Brown, James Jacobs, Will- 
iam Mains, James M. Cox, 
John Aydollett, \VilIiani 
Knowles (colored), Ouut 
O. Hall, Robert ]. Fvtte, 



Theodore H. Johnson (col- 
ored). Squire Glass, Hiram 
Xewlin, A. Morris, John 
A. Musser, Hiram E. New- 
lin, Chas. W. Overpeck, 
Thomas J. Collings, W'ill- 
iam J. Pease, Peare, Col- 
lins. 



COUNTY ASSESSORS. 



This office was created in 189 1, by act of the Legislature. The first to 
hold the office in Parke county was Stephen A. Pike, appointed in June, 1891, 
and who served until November of that year. 



1 89 1 — Samuel Coble. 

1900 — Charles E. McDaniel. 



1906 — Stephen A. Pike. 
19 10 — Stephen A. Pike. 



COUNTY SURVEYORS. 

Among the various surveyors in Parke county have been the following : 
Jeremiah H. Siler, Enos C. Siler, William H. Nye, John T. Campbell, Claud 
Ott, Alfred Hadley, whose deputy was a Mr. Demare, who had the field- 
notes of the whole county in his house, when all were burned, causing the 
county a great loss. Later surveyors have been : Claud Ott, John A. Camp- 
bell, Arthur Pickett, James E. Phillips, Henry Davis. 



JUDGES. 

The first court held in Parke county was at tiie house of Samuel Blair, in 
Rosedale, where it continued to be held until a suitable place could be pro- 
vided at the county seat. The first associate judges were Samuel Steele, 
1826; James McSmith, 1827. The judges of the circuit court were: Isaac 
Naylor, 1833; associates. Judges Robert Mitchell and D. Seybold. In 1S38, 
E. .M. Huntington; associates, R. H. Wedding, W. C. Donaldson. 1842, Will- 
iam P. Bryant: same associates as before. 1844, John Law; associates, Alex- 
ander Kirkpatrick, \\'. C. Donaldson. 1850, S. B. Gookins; associates, A. 
Kirkpatrick and Samuel Case. 1851, D. R. Eckles; same associates as before. 
In 1852 the office of associate judge was abolished. The judge next to serve 
was W. P. Bryant. 1858, John M. Cowan: 1867, C. Y. Patterson: 1873, 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 71 

Samuel C. Wilson ; 1879, William P. Britten, Albert D. Wilson Iiaving served 
just after Judge Wilson for a short term. The ne.xt judge was Joshua J. 
Jump, succeeded by Ared V. White, Gould G. Rheubv, Charles W. Ward, 
William C. Wait, Jr., Barton Aikman. 

CU.M.MON I'LEAS JUDGES. 

From 1853 to 1873 e.xisted what was styled the court of common pleas. 
The judges in Parke county were: Hons. John R. Porter, 1853; S. F. Max- 
well. 1853: C. Y. Patterson. 1861 ; S. F. Maxwell. 1865: 1869, John T. 
Scott, who was in office when the position was abolished. 

PR0B.\.TE JUDGES. 

From 1829 to 1853 there was the office of probate judge in Indiana, and 
in Parke county the gentlemen who served as such judges were Joseph Potts; 
Daniel M. Morris, 1834; T. S. Baldwin, 1834; John Marshall, 1844 to 1853. 

PRESENT BAR OF PARKE COUNTY. 

The attorneys practicing at the Parke county bar in the autumn of 1912 
were as follows: Ared F. White, Albert J\I. Adams, J. M. Johns, S. F. 
Max Puett, Clarence G. Powell, J. C. Buchanan, S. F. McGuinn. D. J. 
Chapin, George W. Bell, W. T. l-'ink, Elwood Hunt, Howard Maxwell, 
Howard Hancock, Roy W. Thompson, Tenbrook ]\IcCarty, F. M. McLaugh- 
lin, R. C. McDivitt, Chas. E. Lambert, H. A. Henderson, Earl Dowd, Henr}' 
Daniels, David Strouse, J. S. McFaddin, Frank Strouse, J. S. White, C. E. 
Xewlin, Clyde Riggs, Will G. Bennett, J. M. Xeet, Carrie Hyde. 

The court officers were: Barton S. Aikman, judge; George L. Laney, 
clerk: Leonora Gleason, deputy: W. A. Satterlee, pro.secutor: Robert J. b'in- 
ney. sheriff: ]\Iarion Grulib, deputy: W. T. Fink. dc])uty. 



CHAPTER \1. 

MILITARY HISTORY OF I-ARKK COUNTY. 

Over the great (juestions of state's rights and slavery, the Civil war 
tinally was comnienceci. tor all time, prohably. to settle these ciuestions on 
the American continent, and set, as it were, a guide-board to all foreign 
nations, powers and kingdoms, that they, too. might learn that men (black 
or white, red or copper colored) are endowed witli certain inalienable rights, 
including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It took four long years 
of blood-shed to settle this question. Sword and powder finally settled it, 
once for all, that the nation is and always must stand above its individual 
states and territories. In the settlement of this question, the settlement of 
the slaxe traffic was also settled. l)y the Emancipation Proclamation signed 
by President Lincoln, primarily as a war measure, hence with no recompense 
to the slave owners for their propertv in the slaves they held. Had they 
laid down their arms in 1862, a different page might have been given to the 
history of the fair Southland. 

In the opening months of 1861, however, Parke county only felt these 
truths darkly : and as late as January 23d of that year, no less ardent a patriot 
than John T. Campbell published in the Rcfiitblican. of Rockville. a well- 
written letter advocating peaceable secession : but at the same time from all 
quarter? of the county came reports of public meetings, where men of all 
parties pledged themselves to sacrifice life and property, if need be. for the 
preservation of the Union. But these sentiments changed, or rather crystal- 
lized the sentiment in the county, after the famous s])eech of tliat great patriot 
and statesman. Governor Oliver P. Morton, in which he laid down the ])rin- 
ciple that the nation had the constitutional right to fight for its existence, 
though its enemies in certain states objected, and that, if necessary, they had 
the right to coerce the rebellious states. While the public mind was in this 
state the rebels struck the first blow, and Indiana's res]ionse was immediate 
and enthusiastic. On April 12, t86i. Fort Sumter was attacked: April 13th, 
it was coinpelled to surrender: April 14th, President Lincoln called for 
75,cxx) volunteers, and April T6th, as soon as the news had reached Parke 
county, its men ''arose as one man," practically, to assert their devotion to 



PARKE AND \1XMILOOK OOUKTIES, IXDIAKA. 73 

the Starr)' flag of freedom and Union. On Tuesday, the i6th, the people 
came together as bj- one common impulse, and hundreds of young and mid- 
dle-aged men vowed to die, if need be, for the Union of States. No re- 
cruiting officer arrived imtil the 17th, when a mass-meeting was called. 
•Charles E. Adamson, a typesetter on the RockfiUe Republican, reached the 
stand first and enrolled his name, the first in Roclcville, but the first to em-oll 
from Parke countj- was G. H. Hansel, who walked from this count}- to Brazil, 
where, two hours before young Adamson had enrolled, he had signed the 
sheet at Brazil, making him the first of this countj^'s brave men to offer his 
ser^•ices to the countr)-. Young Hansel lived at Bridgeton, and to him mtist 
Ix: given this honor. This matter was settled by the t\\"o men after their 
return from the war, when the day and hour of the enrollment was investi- 
gated and agreed upon, as above narrated. Following the enroUment of 
young .\damson, were entered the names of W. X. Painter, R. R. Smith, J. 
F. Meacham, Zach Garrett, E. M. Foote, I. E. Wright. Dan. A. .\nderson. 
George Sanderson. Jim Steele. J. .\. Wilson. Jacob Xeron. Samuel L. Comp- 
ton, William S. Coleman, James R. Painter. John .\. Pike, David Byei3, 
James R. Hollowell. W. X. Ralston and Jobe Graves. These left the next 
day for Indianapolis, there to learn, with siuTDrise. that out of the number 
only fifteen were accepted upon physical examination; but later in the war, 
when the government wanted and needed men, they were not so critical and 
so particular, even if a man's body had some little defect, if he was able to 
load a musket and march in defense of Old Glorv-. Then it was that many 
of these first rejected men, \vho had not sulked, but waited their time, were 
able to enlist and march with older soldiers from Parke coimty commands. 
The men who were accepted at Indianapolis were assigned to Company C. 
Eleventh Indiana Regiment, commanded by the now late Gen. Lew Wallace, 
and took part in the three-months campaign in West Virginia, as the terri- 
tor\- is now understood, but then a part of Old \'irginia. They participated 
in the battles of Phillipi and Laurel Hill, and drove the rebels from that 
territOfTi'. J. H. Hollowell. one of the boys from Parke count>- of a scouting 
squad of eleven, fought in the bloody battle of Kelley's Island, in which they 
opposed fiftA' Confederate soldiers, upon whom the eleven had suddenly 
come. It was surrender, and then probably sudden death or long capti\-ity. 
unless they could fight their way out. Their decision was prompt, and 
worthy of brave men — they fought. From tree to tree, firing at every 
opportunity and dropping a man at almost everA' shot, they fought their way 
•^ut. 3nd onif" off with the loss of hnt two men Hollowell shot down two 



74 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

men, then, coming in close quarters, clubbed his gun and disabled two more ; 
again fired, with the stock of his gun almost off, and again brought down his 
man. Of the enemy, he certainly killed three and possibly two more. From 
accounts published by J. H. Beadle in 1880 and by Isaac R. Strouse in 1896, 
the following has been largel)' compiled : 

COMPANY A, FOURTEENTH REGIMENT. 

The first full company that left I-iockville was on May 8, 1861. They 
went to Camp Vigo, Terre Haute. It was composed of the very best young 
men of the community. Its officers were : L. A. Foote, captain : Thomas 
Williams, first lieutenant ; T. A. Howard, second lieutenant ; Robert Catter- 
son, orderly sergeant. At the same time Captain Wheat enrolled forty men 
in Rockville, and the remainder of the company in Rosedale. Captain 
Foote's company became A of the Fourteenth Indiana, and voted to go into 
the service for three years, on May 25, 1861, three days before the order of 
the war department which organized the three-year regiments. On June 8th, 
the day after the company was mustered, the ladies in Rockville gave a din- 
ner at Camp Vigo, to Company A, and Captain Foote was then presented 
with a sword, the speech of presentation being made by T. N. Rice. Before 
these men left Terre Haute, G. W. McCune, of Rockville, was appointed 
assistant surgeon of the regiment and Nathan H. Kimball commissioned 
colonel. They left Camp Vigo, June 25, 1861, for Indianapolis, and were 
sent from there direct to the seat of war in Virginia. After serving some 
months. Captain Foote and Lieutenant Howard resigned : Lieutenant Bost- 
wick was killed at Antietam and at Fredericksburg Captain Kellev was killed. 
Lieutenant Baker's leg was shot off. The command of the company was 
then given to Joshua L. Hayes, who had enlisted as a private. From the 
start the regiment made an enviable record, and Company A was second to 
none in the army. In the fight, camp or march they w ere always true repre- 
sentatives of an ideal American soldier of the volunteer type, which Gen- 
eral Logan contended was the best soldier the country had. They partici- 
pated in the battles of Greenbrier, Winchester, Antietam, Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Cold Harbor. At the 
latter place they were ordered to Indianapolis and mustered out, having 
served three years. Those who veteranized were transferred to the Twen- 
tieth Regiment and remained until the end of the war. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 75 

COMPANY 11, TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 

Capt John T. Campbell, who was rejected from the Fourteenth on ac- 
count of the want of teeth, came home and immediately began raising a com- 
pany. The men at Annapolis, on June 30th, elected John 1". Camiibell, cap- 
tain; Thomas Bryant, first lieutenant; James Connelly, second lieutenant; and 
William P. Wimmer, adjutant. The company was composed of intelligent, 
fine looking men, under thirt\- }ears of age. They received orders to report 
at Indianapolis, and left Rockville, July 5th. They were assigned to Colonel 
McMillen's Twenty-first Regiment, and became Company H. From Indi- 
anapolis they went direct to Baltimore, where they remained during the w inter 
and in the spring moved by water for Xewport Xews. there emliarking on the 
ship "Constitution" for Ship Island, and became a part of the Army of the 
Gulf, under General Butler, which had for its object the capture of Xew 
Orleans. Leaving Ship Island, they were sent to New Orleans, after the fall 
of Jackson and Phillipi. During their service as infantry their duty was of 
the most dangerous character, being employed to dislodge rebels from the 
swamps and bayous of Louisiana, and they were constantly fighting the 
enemy. The company took part in the battle of Baton Rouge, and signally 
distinguished itself, suffering severe losses. In this fight Captain Camijbell 
was wounded and, to the regret of his men, had to leave the service. After 
the battle of Baton Rouge the regiment became the First Heavy Artillery and 
Company H became noted for the remarkable accuracy of its gunners, doing 
very effective service at the seige of Port Hudson. It has been said that 
Company II contained the best gunners in all that department of the army. 
In the disastrous expedition up Red river, this company bore an active part 
in repelling the repeated attacks of pursuing rebels. After their return, the 
most of the regiment having veteranized, they went to New Orleans and soon 
after took an active part in the Mobile campaign, which resulted in the cap- 
ture of Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, and finally in the surrender of the city 
itself, with an immense amount of ordnance and three hundred cannon. The 
company went to Baton Rouge and were there detained till January 13, 1866, 
when they received their final discharge. 

THE WABASH RIFLE.MEN. 

This was the little company of men raised by Fred Arn and William H. 
Beadle. They rendezvoused at the Fair grounds in Montezuma, where, on 
August 6th, they elected Fred Arn, captain ; W. FI. Beadle, first lieutenant, 



y6 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and Dr. Richard \\atennan, second lieutenant. They left Montezuma Aug- 
ust I9tli, and before leaving were presented with a beautiful flag by the ladies 
of the place, Hon. T. N. Rice presenting it on behalf of the ladies. Arriving 
at Terra Haute, they were kept in Camp Vigo till September 21st, then ordered 
to Evansville, where they drew their rifles and went to Kentucky. During 
the long and dreary winter they suffered from sickness, being stationed at 
Calhoun, Kentucky. This winter was the hardest of their campaigning. In 
February they went to Fort Donelson and gallantly fought through that bloody 
battle. The next fight was Shiloh, in which the gallant Arn, then a major, 
was killed. His body was returned home and buried at Alontezuma by the 
jNlasonic fraternity. This company stood unflinchingly while the battle raged 
hottest in front of Murfreesboro and went down to "the Valley of Death" 
at Chickamauga. They were made veterans January i, 1864, and came home 
on a furlough, returning in time for the brilliant Atlanta campaign. They 
took part in the battles of Resaca and Kenesaw mountain and were in that 
awful slaughter at Jonesboro, below Atlanta, which ended that historic cam- 
paign. When Hood made his desperate raid back upon Nashville, they were 
sent with the division to overtake him and engaged in the battle of Nashville. 
The company was mustered out December 8. 1865. 

THE PENN GUARDS. 

At the breaking out of the war a company was organized and called the 
"Penn Guards." George Harvey proposed that they go into the United 
States volunteer service, whereupon fifteen at once declared their wish to 
volunteer. Recruiting began at once and was aided b\' James Hollowell and 
William Geiger of Rockville. They organized and elected Harvey captain; 
Geiger, first lieutenant, and Hollowell, second lieutenant, the latter later be- 
coming colonel of his regiment. This company was mustered into the Thirtv- 
first Regiment and became Company I. .\t the liattle of Pitts1)urg Landing, 
Captain Harvey was severely wounded and while being carried from the field 
was shot through the head and instantly killed. His remains were brought 
back to Rockville and escorted to his father's house, two miles north of town, 
by the Rockville Union Guards. The citizens of the place asked permission 
of his family to bury Captain Harvey in the cemetery at Rockville, which was 
granted. Over his grave was erected a befitting monument, telling how he 
fought and died that the country might live. The history of Companv I, as 
to the engagements in which it took part, is the same as Company A. Both 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. JJ 

companies, after the battle of Nashville, were transferred to the Army of 
Occupancy in Texas, and mustered out on December 8, 1865. 

COMl'ANV K. FORTY-TIIIKD REGIMENT. 

John Callender raised this company, aided by William S. Magil, William 
Sweeney, V. P. Bonsell and Samuel Garrigus. The company collected at 
Terre Haute and it was decided not to hold an election of officers until it was 
completed. At the election held at Camp Vigo, Tuesday, October 29th, John 
Callender was chosen captain; W. S. Magil, first lieutenant; G. H. Hensel, 
second lieutenant. As soon as the citizens heard of the election, a fine sword 
was presented Lieutenant Magil, who acknowledged the compliment by a card 
published in the Parke County Republican. Company K was presented with 
a handsome flag b)' the patriotic ladies of Rockwell, which flag was sent to 
the town later, with appropriate ceremonies. July 4, 1865, General Steele 
was commissioned colonel of the regiment, which took its departure for Ken- 
tucky, November 17, 1861 and, were located for a while at Spottsville, but 
soon sent to Calhoun, where thej^ remained until February, 1862. Company 
K engaged in the work of true soldiers and suffered some, but fared better in 
health than other commands, owing to the extra time and expense used by 
Colonel Steele to take good care of his men and their surroundings. But 
later, while this company was on duty along the Mississippi river, it suffered 
much from sickness, as did other soldiers of that department. Colonel Steele 
resigned January 17, 1862, which act was deeply regretted by his men. The 
other officers of the regiment petitioned him and passed resolutions of regret 
and desired him to remain in the service, but his health would not permit. 
The company was transferred to the Department of the Mississippi and most 
of its service was along that stream. They were with the Forty-third Regi- 
ment, the first Union soldiers to enter Memphis, after the war began. From 
Memphis they were sent to Arkansas, particijiating in the liattle of Helena, 
July 4th. doing some excellent fighting. This regiment captured a full rebel 
regiment of greater numbers than the Forty-third. At Little Rock they re- 
enlisted as veterans and were sent home on a furlough. They returned to 
Indianapolis and were never sent to the front, but guarded rebel jirisoners 
until mustered out, July 14, 1865. 



^8 PARKE .\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

THE NINTH BATTERY. 

This command was raised by Captain Thompson, of Evansville, In- 
diana, who recruited about forty men in Parke county. The remainder of 
the battery was enrolled m ^Montgomery county. It was organized at In- 
dianapolis and left for Cairo, Illinois, the men being thoroughly drilled and 
then sent on to Tennessee in the vicinity of Pittsburg Landing, where they 
arrived Sunday, April 6th, at sundown. The batteiy was composed of young 
men and from their youthful appearance became known as the "Boy Battery." 
Their extreme youth and inexperience led many of the old soldiers to doubt 
their usefulness, and they were often told that they would ne\-er stand what 
they had just gone through that day, but would run at tlie first opportunity. 
The batter\- was finally planted on the extreme right of the Union lines, and 
was supported by Gen. Lew Wallace's brigade. Directly in front of the 
Ninth was a rebel battery which had done good service on Sunday. In the 
early morning the Ninth opened the great battle which was to end in defeat 
of the rebels and the death of one of their great generals — a battle never 
before equaled on this continent and almost without parallel in modern war- 
fare. The Ninth soon dismounted and silenced the rebel battery and was 
advanced about two miles, where the}' fired every charge of ammunition they 
had. During the fight they had fired one thousand three hundred rounds 
and experienced officers said they never saw guns served or aimed with 
greater efifectiveness. The men who predicted the "boy battery"' would run 
gave three rousing cheers, when they saw how manfully they worked at their 
guns and afterwards the Ninth was known as the best battery in the whole 
service. After the battle the battery was returned by General Wallace, until 
the evacuation of Corinth, where they went with the Thirteenth .\nny 
Corps (then under gallant McPherson). Among the principal actions in 
which they engaged were famous Shiloh, Corinth, those of the Meridian 
campaign and Red River expedition and from Vicksburg they were deployed 
on the expedition against the rebels. .\t Memphis they veteranized, and 
all save a detachment were sent home on furlough. The men left took part 
in the battle of Tupello, Mississippi, after which they chased Price through 
Missouri over into Kansas, marching seven hundred and twentv miles and 
returned in time to fight at the battle of Nashville. At this battle, A. P. 
Noel, wounded at Tupello, came out of the hospital and joined his battery 
on his crutches. He was seen by Gen. A. J. Smith, who ordered him back, 
but Pat wanted to stay and only went to the rear when taken in charge by a 



PAKKE AND \ERM ll.l ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 79 

guard! The Ninth was ordered to report at IndianapoHs, after the battle of 
Nasln-ille. From there they were to take boats for Evansville. When a few 
miles out from Paducah, Kentucky, the steamer "Eclipse" exploded; on the 
boat were sixty-eight of this battery, and all hul ten of the brave boys were 
killed, scalded or wounded. The Ninth was reorganized at Indianapolis, 
but never reported for duty, as the surrender of Lee to Grant occurred soon 
after they were reorganized, when all the light artillery not in the field was 
mustered out. With the Ninth Battery ended the enlistment for the second 
grand uprising". The ne.xt call, in the summer of 1862, was made, when the 
Seventy-fifth, Seventy-eighth and Eight}-fifth Regiments were sent to the 
field from Indiana. The action of the Parke county men in these engage- 
ments will lie traced out fui'tlier in this chapter. 

I'.\RKE C()LXTV .\GAIN TO THE RESCUE. 

In 1862. the demand for soldiers was greater than in 1861, when it 
was a matter of conjecture what the Confederates could and would accom- 
plish. P)Ut not so in 1862; it was then a dread reality what they were 
doing to our forces. McClellan had marched nearly "on to Richmond," but 
retreated, after the slaughter of Malvern Hills, Glendale, Gaines Mills, etc. 
The Army of North Virginia, «-ith its veterans from Manassas and Seven 
Pines, were pressing forward to the music of "Mainland, My Maryland," 
and that under Kirby Smith, eager to avenge Zollicofer and Fort Donelson, 
had re-entered Kentuckv', with evident intention of invading Indiana. The 
patriotic men of Parke count)- were called upon and responded nobly as 
before, enlisting by the hundreds in the armies of the L'nicin. 

On July II, 1862, Wallace W. McCune, assisted by some patriotic 
young men, began raising a company, with headquarters at the fair grounds 
at Montezuma. .\t a war meeting held at Rock\ille, July 26th, addressed 
by ex-Governor J. .\. Wright. Lieutenant Mc.Vrthur. of Captain McCune's 
company, enrolled a number of men. After camjjing a few days at Monte- 
zuma, the company went into Camp Vigo, Terre Haute, after which it was 
sent to Indianapolis and mustered into the Seventy-first Infantry for three 
years and became Company G. The regiment was immediately sent to Ken- 
tucky and took part in the battle of Richmond when only twelve days from 
home. Most of the regiment were taken prisoners, after hard and desperate 
fighting. They were immediately paroled and sent to Terre Haute. Captain 
McCime resigned November 30, 1862, and Lieutenant Mc.Xrthur became 
captain. The regiment was sent back to Kentucky after being exchanged, 
and in February, 1863. was changed to a cavalry organization and l^ecame 



8o PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

the Sixth Indiana Cavalry, after which it was sent to eastern Tennessee and 
engaged in the siege of Knoxville. In the spring of 1864 they were sent to 
Georgia and assisted in the Atlanta campaign, as part of the Army of the 
Ohio, participating in all of the cavalry operations and taking part in the 
battles of Resaca, Cassville and Kenesaw Mountain. After the fall of Atlanta 
they were sent with Sherman on his raid against Macon, which resulted in 
the surrender of his staff and the greater part of his command. Of the 
captured, twenty of the company starved to death in prison — Andersonville 
and Libby. Those not captured were at the battle of Nashville and remained 
in that city till April, 1864, when they were sent to Mississippi and became 
part of the military division of that state. They were mustered out September 
nth at Murphreesboro, Tennessee. 

COMPANIES C AND D, SEVENTY-EIGHTH. 

During the last week of July, 1862. one hundred and twenty men for 
sixty days' service were raised in Parke county, mostly from Rockville and 
Bellemore. The company went to Indianapolis, where some difficulty about 
the election of officers occurred and the company, being too large, was divided. 
Those who preferred T. A. Howard as captain stepped to one side, and those 
wanting J. W. Humphreys to the other. Captain Howard was the favorite 
with most of the men, consequently the Rockville company was the largest. 
They elected Howard captain, J. M. Nichols, first lieutenant, and Madison 
Keeney, second lieutenant. The Bellemore company elected Humphries, 
captain; E. Cole, first lieutenant, and S. Crooks, second lieutenant. The 
two companies, with one from Clay and Putnam counties, became the 
Seventy-eighth Indiana, whicli regiment was never completed, and left In- 
dianapolis Friday evening, August ist, for Evansville, where they drew 
arms and uniforms and Saturday evening went to Henderson, Kentucky, 
remained one day ^nd Sunday night went by boat down the river to Union- 
town and marched to the country several miles to capture some guerrillas, but 
owing to the want of a competent guide the expedition was abandoned. 
During that march Private Loveless, of the Bellemore company, was mor- 
tally wounded, being shot by his own comrades, who, without orders, fired 
upon the skirmish line of their own men. On September ist the battalion — 
one hundred and fifty men — were attacked by seven hundred and fifty Rebels 
and, after a severe fight, lasting an hour and a half, during which Captain 
Howard and many others were killed and others mortally wounded, they had 
to surrender. Though the Rebels were victors, their success was dearly 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 8l 

bought, as about twenty of their number were k-illed and many more wounded. 
The men of tlie Seventy-eighth were paroled and sent to Indianapohs. where 
they were discharged. 

COMPANY A, EIGHTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. 

Tliis command was raised at AnnapoHs and sworn in at that place in 
August, 18O2. Company .\ was presented with a beautiful silk Hag by the 
ladies of Annapolis, Dr. J. S. Uare, on behalf of the ladies, making a neat 
speech. The company went to Terre Haute, where it elected Abner Floyd, 
captain; C. Sherman, first lieutenant: H. Ingraham, second lieutenant, and 
A. McCune, first sergeant. The regiment was organized Se])tember 2d and 
the next day went to Camp Morton, from which they were ordered to Camp 
Wallace, at Covington, Kentucky, where they were thoroughly drilled and 
then sent to Tennessee. In their first fight, at Thompson's Station, they made 
a gallant record, being in battle witli their brigade against five brigades of 
Reliels. under Forrest. In this fight Captain I'loyd was killed. The Union 
men fought all day against an overwhelming number and every round of 
ammunition was fired before they would surrender. The prisoners were 
taken to Richmond, where thev were confined twenty-six days and then re- 
turned to Indianapolis, exchanged and again sent to Franklin, Tennessee. 
When Sherman concentrated his matchless army for the Atlanta campaign, 
this regiment went to Chattanooga and was assigned to his command. Com- 
pany A was in the fierce charge upon the hills of Resaca, driving Rebels from 
works which seemed impregnalile, and took part in the battles of Cassville. 
Dallas W'oofl, Golgotha Church, Culp's Farm, P'each Tree Creek and niany 
more, and ' when Atlanta finally fell and was "fairly won" and Sherman 
again took the field. Company A went with him to the sea, marching through 
Georgia, to Savannah, and on through the two Carolinas to Richmond. 
From Richmond, they went to Washington, D. C, and back to Indianapolis 
and were discharged. 

COMPANY B, EIGHTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. 

This organization was effected as a part of the Eighty-fifth Indiana 
Volunteers and was begun in July, 1862, and completed by electing l-"rancis 
Brooks, captain; David I'billips, first lieutenant: Robert Clark, second lieu- 
tenant. The company left Camp Dick Thompson, at Terre Haute, with the 
regiment, September 3. 1862. and went via Indianapolis and Cincinnati, to 
(6) 



82 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Kentucky, where it struck the Kirby Smith raiders and lay in Hue of battle 
several days and nights vvithout a single cartridge. It soldiered along 
through the "dark and bloody ground" and was then ordered to Tennessee. 
Its first engagement was at Thompson's Station, where it behaved well, but, 
with other portions of the regiment, was captured and taken to Libby prison. 
The prison life caused the death of nine members of the company. After its 
release and exchange, it again entered the field and participated in the Atlanta 
campaign, "down to the sea," through the two Carolinas and on to Washing- 
ton, D. C, where it took part in that greatest of all military pageantries, the 
Grand Review. It was then mustered out. 

COMPANY F, ELEVENTH INDIANA CAVALRY. 

This company was chiefly organized by Capt. Daniel A. Porter, in the 
autiunn of 1863. First Lieutenant D. Phillips and a man named Taylor, 
with a party of Illinoisians, was sent to help fomi the required number. 
Taylor was elected second lieutenant, but never commanded, John E. Wood- 
ard being afterwards chosen by the men, received his commission as second 
lieutenant. The Eleventh, greatly to its disappointment and in violation of the 
promise made the soldiers at their enlistment, was not immediately mounted 
and placed in duty on the front. They were scattered by companies along the 
Memphis & Charleston railroad in the spring of 1864 in Alabama, where dis- 
ease killed more than the bullets would have. In the fall the regiment was 
driven in by Hood's advance, mounted at. Nashville and sent to meet him at 
Columbia, Tennessee. The regiment, one of those forming Stewart's bri- 
gade, Hatch's division, made a complete circuit of the Rebel army and its 
many battalions, moving by dififerent routes and often in close quarters with 
the enemy. Company F, with three others, was on one occasion almost 
entirely surrounded, charged by three columns and shelled at three hundred 
yards' distance. The greater part of the command escaped by cutting their 
way out to the Nashville pike. There about thirty men rallied and drove back 
the front of the Rebel achance, re-took the prisoners and retired in good 
order, as the heavy columns of the Texas cavalry came up. The battalion 
that evening lost nearly one hundred men in killed, wounded and missing. 
This was known by soldiers as "Spring Hill fight." .'Kt Franklin, the 
Eleventh was on the left flank of Schofield's army, but not in actual engage- 
ment, as there was no place for cavalry to operate. They made a good record 
at Nashville, the regiment fighting dismounted, taking eight out of sixteen 
Rebel cannon. It is said that Frank Howard was the first man to capture a 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 83 

gun. Of two hundred and fifty men in the last charge at dark, they lost thirty- 
seven men in less than three minutes. Bert Chapman, the orderly in com- 
mand (acting adjutant), showed soldierly qualities. He stayed through the 
thick of the fight, refusing to let a serious lameness from an old wound keep 
him out of the battle. John Lindley, a sergeant, rode a white horse through 
a corn field, where the Eleventh left most of its dead lying, at which point 
the field officers and Lindley dismounted and led the brigade to its last charge, 
just as the curtain of night fell, and took in four of the Rebel guns. From 
that point the company followed Hood, being all the time in front and almost 
daily engaged with his rear guard, until he crossed the Tennessee. Lindley 
was promoted to captain; Chapman to first lieutenant and Howard to sec- 
ond lieutenant. The regiment was sent west in May. 1865, riding from St. 
Louis to buffalo ranges in western Kansas. The\- were brought back and 
mustered out in the fall of that year. 

THE hundred-days' MEN. 

August 7, 1864, under the call for twenty thousand men from Indiana, 
to serve one hundred days, Company H, Indiana Legion — "Rockville Guards" 
— began to recruit, preparatory to offering the company organization to the 
volunteer service. The number was soon made up. a large number of Rock- 
ville men who would be accepted under the call, and many who could enlist 
for three years, volunteering. On Monday, May C)th, the company elected 
Milton Vance, captain: S. B. J. Bryant, first lieutenant: James Phalon, sec- 
ond lieutenant, and L. A. Foote. orderly, who was later made major of his 
regiment. The company left Tuesday for Indianapolis, accompanied to the 
depot in a heavy rain storm by a large crowd of ladies and gentlemen. At 
Indianapolis, the company presented their captain with a handsome sword. 
Private J. M. McLaughlin making the presentation speech, which was replied 
to by Captain Vance, .\fter lieing organized as Company G, One Hundred 
and Thirty-third Indiana Volunteers, they left Indianapolis for Nashville, 
May 2 1st, and after a few days there were sent to Bridgeport, .\lal>ama. 
They were as well drilled as any single command in the army at that date, 
but were never sent to the front, remaining at Bridgeport, doing guard duty, 
until mustered out of service. 



84 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 



SECOND COMPANY. 



Soon after the first company was sent Sontli, another was recruited in 
Rockville. They, too, went to Indianapohs and were consolidated with part 
of a company from Madison county. They were sent to Nashville and then 
down the Nash\ille & Chattanooga railroad to Tullahoma, where they did 
similar service as the company that had preceded them. The last named was 
known as Company D. One Hundred and Thirty-Sexenth regiment. 

Thus ends the hrief (imperfect in many ways) history of the military 
operations of the men who served from Parke county in defense of the 
Union, but this is the best that the author, at the mercy of imperfect records 
in the adjutant-general's office, can here furnish. It covers the chief events 
connected with the great struggle in which Parke county bore a very patriotic 
and important part. From first to last. Parke county sent out fourteen full 
companies, and more than half of fi\e other companies. To these add the 
original volunteers in the Eleventh Indiana Regiment, the scattered ones in 
the Eighty-fifth Regiment, those in the Ninety-se\enth and One Hundred 
and Fifteenth, the parts of companies in the One Hundred and Forty-ninth, 
the individuals in the sharp-shooters, the volunteers of 1864-5 o" the gmi- 
boats and other detached squads and it is found that the county contributed 
not less than two thousand volunteers for the Union cause between 1861 and 
1866. And remember, these were from a county that had a population of 
less than sixteen thousand souls when the war broke out. The county also 
raised funds for bounties and relief of $234,970. .\side from the usual 
number of worthless men who always find their way into armies, in all wars, 
in all countries, the men from Parke were solid citizens, terribly in earnest in 
their devotion to the national interests. In the camp-fires, in the tented 
fields of the Southland, might have been heard discussions of every theme 
imaginable. The officers were in no degree superior to the privates, as a 
general rule. The volunteer from this county was a man of standing at 
home, and saw the necessity of being true to his convictions and bared his 
breast unflinchingly on many a hard-fought battle field. .\t this date (1912) 
but few survive to tell of the terrible battles and long marches. There are 
some, however, and they are respected by all for what they endured in the 
days when the country demanded good men. In 1883 there were one hundred 
and seventy-five of these ex-soldiers in Parke county who were drawing pen- 
sions from the United States. The number has been diminishing ever since, 
although the pensions were raised after that date, making the amounts paid 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 85 

out here quite as large as a c|uarter of a cenliiry ago. Xot alone did the 
sturdy farmer leave his plow in the field to enlist, but beside him stood the 
merchant, the lawyer, the doctor, the mechanic and the learned Greek and 
Latin scholars from institutions of learning. While lndian;i hail its jiack- 
biters at home, — its copiKT-liead element, — the liest citizens, both in ])ublic 
and pri\-ate life, were men who stood by the Union in its hour of peril. Peace 
finally came, but not without great loss of blood and personal sacrifice on the 
part of Parke county soldiers. 

With the many companies and regiments went forth many bra\e men 
who never returned to enjo\- peace and long life among their people. P>y the 
wayside, on the hills, in the morasses and swamps of the far-off Southland; 
in the Golgothas around prison ])ens of Dixie, they sleep unshrouded, un- 
coffined and unknown, there to rest until the Angel shall proclaim the 
Resurrection Day, and bid the earth reveal her secrets. No gentle hand 
scatters flowers over their narrow homes. None go to weep where they rest 
hidden from sight and knowledge, but perchance the busy husl)andmen jjIows 
o'er the spot where they lie in silence, and the wind in the tall grass chants 
its solemn requiem. 

"On fame's eternal camping ground 

Their silent tents are spread ; 
And glory guards with solemn sound 

The bivouac of the dead.'' 

There were several of the pioneers here who served in the war with 
Mexico, in 1846-7, and the last one, A. P. Noel, died in iqi 1. 

At the time of the Spanish-. \mcrican war. 1898, a com|)an\- was re- 
cruited in Rockville for that .service, but were never called out. as the .state 
quota was tnade up by use of the regular National Guard com])anies. This 
company, which would have gladly served, was largely from out the men 
belonging to the old Cadet and Battery companies of Rockville. 

THE m'cI'NE C.XDKT.S. 

This was a military coni])any organized as state militia and sworn into 
service, with forty-eight members, .\pril 30. 1880. It secured (|uarters o\er 
the old woolen factory, which it used as an armory and where the meml>ers 
were drilled. The captain was Clinton Murphy: first lieutenant, Isaac R. 
Strouse ; Frank E. Steven.son, sergeant, at first, but at the completion of the 



86 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

organization in April, the following were elected : Clinton Murphy, captain ; 
Frank E. Stevenson, first lieutenant; C. E. Lambert, second lieutenant; 
William L. Mason, orderly sergeant; Lannie L. Ticknor, second sergeant; 
William D. Stevenson, third sergeant; Frank H. Nichols, fourth sergeant; 
Tilghman Bryant, fifth sergeant; Isaac Strouse, first corporal; William W. 
Smith, second corporal; Benjamin Grimes, third corporal, and George C. 
Cole, fourth corporal. The state furnished this company with breech-load- 
ing Springfield rifles. They were neatly uniformed in navy blue coats and 
sky-blue trousers and caps. The cost of the uniforms was eleven dollars and 
seventy-five cents per suit. 

After about five years, this company disbanded. At present Rockville 
is the headquarters for the Indiana Artillery, Major Stevens, commander; 
Major Frank E. Strauss, chief engineer of staff. 

Another militar}- company here is Company C Battery, whose officers 
are at present : Dennis Williams, captain ; first lieutenants, James F. Ander- 
son and R. E. Swope ; second lieutenants, Frank J. Strain and William 
Elliott. This battery has a membership of one hundred men. 



CHAPTER VII. 



PARKE COUNTY S RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 



A majority of the pioneer band that in\-aded the wilds of what is now 
known as Parke county, Indiana, had been reared in the atmosphere, at least, 
of church influences, and many had been members of some one of the relig- 
ious denominations in the communities from which tliey emigrated. So, at 
an early day, they began to look to the formation of religious societies here 
and to the erection of some place in which to worship the "true and living 
God." The good seed scattered away back there a century ago has kept on 
producing good fruitage and may now be seen welling up in the Christian 
spirit manifested on every hand within the borders of Parke county, the 
present home of numerous churches and a regular church-going people, 
grouped into several different denoniiiiatiDns of both Protestant and Catholic 
faith, but all of whom own the Chirst as their common Master. 

Almost a third of a century ago it was written by J. H. Beadle, author 
of a history of this county, that the Catholic people had taken up their work 
in this country long before the Protestants, and that the standard of Rome 
had been planted on the banks of the Wabash long before it had in Geneva. 
"From this vantage ground Catholicism has been pushed by the aggressive 
energy of Protestant nations : England has triumphed over France and 
America over Spain and Mexico, till the Catholic ])ower is confined to one 
small corner of North America, with a majority in no state and only in one 
territory of this nation. To the Missionary Baptists must be given the 
credit of the first church in Parke county, and to Rev. Isaac McCoy must be 
given the credit of having preached the first Protestant sermon in this 
county." 

Long years afterward the (Jld-School Baptists, led by Matthew Noel, 
Austin M. Puett and others and ministered to by Elder Newport, founded a 
flourishing society in Rockville and built a brick churcli : liut bv slow de- 
grees the society went down and the Ituilding was finally used for a carpenter 
shop, and at last torn down. 



OO PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

THE BAPTIST UENOMINATION. 

Aside from tlie pioneer church al)o\e mentioned, the Baptists have had 
the following churches w ithin Parke county : 

What was known as the New Discovery Baptist church was situated five 
miles from Rockville, on the Greencastle road. This society was formed 
August 2C). 1834. with thirty-se\en members. By 1879 it Iiad a meniliership 
of seventy communicants. The church was built about 1845. 

The Second Baptist church of Rockville was organized July 23, 1870, 
l)y Rev. L. .\rtis. It liad a Imilding on lot No. i of the original town plat. 
It cost one thousand ti\e hundred dollars and was thirty by forty feet in 
size. This society originally had ele\en members. 1iut b\' 1880 had reached a 
membership of forty-one. 

The Colored bVee-Will Baptists organized in Rock\ille in May, 1880, 
with eleven mem1)ers. They used the Second Baptist cliurch each fourth 
Sabbath. Their first pastor was Rev. Isaac Hill. 

The first church 1)uilt in Union township was what was styled the 
Providence Baptist church and was called the "meeting house." It was Iniilt 
out of the raw n:ateria] of the forest, with but little liewing. It stood in the 
southwest corner of the township and there was a graveyard near liy it. In 
this house Benjamin Lamliert, Jerre Baldwin, Samuel Medley and others 
exhorted. In tlie church yard nearby, the first to be buried was Moses Bald- 
win. Later this rude house of worsliip was aliandoned and a Ijetter one, 
known as Mount Moriah, was built across the wax- in Greene township. Tlie 
first church in the township of Union was built in 1828-31. and tlie one in 
Greene township referred to was erected in about 1840. on section ^t,. a frame 
structure thirty by forty feet, its cost Joeing fi\'e hundred dollars. In 1874 
the society built their third liuilding on the site chosen in 1841. and this 
building cost them one thousand se\-en hundred dollars. Jesse McClain served 
as pastor forty years. In 1880 the memliershi]) of the church was sixty. 

The history of the Baptist church in Bridgeton, as shown liy records pre- 
pared in the seventies by Dr. J. W. P. Seller, was as follows: A1x)ut 1850 
Elder P. Swaim came from ,the New Discovery church and held meetings in 
pri^'ate houses around Bridgeton. After him came Rev. P. T. Palmer. At 
this time the members here belonged at New Discovery. About 1853 a com- 
mittee made arrangements and erected a church at a cost of nine hundred dol- 
lars, it being thirty by fifty feet in size. On June 3. 1853, there convened at 
Bridgeton a council which represented the churches of New Discovery, 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 89 

Freedom, Goshen and Liberty, and organized a society.- Elder V. T. Palmer 
was moderator and R. Davis the church clerk. A joint letter of forty-two 
members from New Discovery church was presented, asking to be organized 
into a church, and were so organized by said council. Their first pastor was 
Peter M. Swaim. in the early eighties the membership had grown to about 
sixty-five. Since its organization up to 1879 there had been between three 
and four hundred persons taken into this society and several ministers had 
been ordained. As the first Baptist church here had been built b\- all classes 
it was used in common by all orthodo.x denominations. In 1879 a neat build- 
ing was erected, at a cost of nine huudrefl dollars, and the membership then 
amounted to about fort}'. 

A regular P)aptist church was organized on section ^2. Raccoon town- 
ship, about 1835. with a membership of nearlv thirty. The first jjreacher was 
Rev. Lsaac ^^'. Denman. who preached there fully forty years. He met his 
death August 31, 1875. by being run o\er by the cars. In 1858 a chapel was 
erected costing five hundred dollars, one-half of which Mr. Denman paid 
himself. The earl\- memliers of this church have long since been gathered to 
their fathers. 

In Liberty township a Baptist church was formed al a \ery earl\' date 
and a Iniilding erected, which was followed in 1869 b\- anotlier, costing two 
thousand eight hundred dollars, dedicated b\- Rev. C. B. Allen. 

In Jackson township, about 1832, was built the first meeting house, and 
it was of the Baptist denomination and styled Rocky Forks church. The 
society was first fonned by seven members. The old log "meeting house" 
stood more than a half century and until in the eighties. 

PRESENT nAI'TIST I' 1 1 IKCII ES. 

At this date (1912) there are the following liaptisl churches within 
Parke county: 

At Bridgeton, the church has a memliershi]) of lwenty-se\cn. and its 
property is valued at $1,500. 

The Brown Valley church has a membership of one hundred eighteen: 
\aluation of church, $3,500. 

Carbon has a church of twenty members, and the clnu'ch is valued at 
$1,800. 

Friendly Grove, membership, ninety-nine: valuation ])roperty. $1,200. 

Friendship church has a membership of thirty-nine and a church valued 
at $900. 



90 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Goshen churcli has a membership of fifty-eight and church property 
valued at $1,500. 

Marshall church has a membership of sixty and church property valued 
at $2,000. 

New Discovery church has a membership of one hundred thirty-four 
and property valued at $2,500. 

Rockville church has one hundred thirteen members and property valued 
at $2,500. 

Tennessee church has a membership of one hundred and church prop- 
erty valued at $1,000. 

Union has a church of seventy-six members and property valued at 
$1,000. 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES. 

This is among the pioneer church societies in Parke county, and for- 
tunate it is that one of the pastors of the Rockville church found time, amid 
his labors, to prepare its early history, from which we draw largely for this 
article, so far as it relates to Rockville and vicinit}-. J. S. Rogers, church 
clerk, placed the item referred to on historic pages for the church. 

"In the autumn of 1822 Rev. Charles C. Beatty, later a doctor of divin- 
ity at Steubenville, Ohio, then a young missionary, visited Parke county and 
gathered together a number of Presbyterian families, principally from fier- 
cer county, Kentucky. Among that flock we find the names of Buchanan, 
Gilkeson, McMillen, Balch, Adams, Garrison, \\'hite, Anderson, ]\Iann, Ran- 
kin and others, all living on Little Raccoon creek, between where Waveland 
now stands and the mouth of that stream. After preaching to them for 
some weeks, some times in groves and some times in private houses, he or- 
ganized them into what was known as Shiloh Presbyterian church. In 1824 
they erected a hewed-log meeting house for worship, near Little Raccoon 
creek, about four miles northeast of the town of Rockville. This was the 
first built in Parke county. The ruling elders were Amos P. Balch, William 
McMillan, Jonathan Garrison, James Buchanan and Henry Anderson. It 
is said that this church in 1830 reported some one hundred members to the 
general assembly. Revs. S. K. Snead. D. C. Proctor, Isaac Reed, Gideon 
Blackburn, Samuel Taylor, John Young and James Thompson visited the 
church and preached more or less to it prior to 1828, when Rev. Samuel H. 
McNutt. a young minister from Virginia, became stated supply to that peo- 
ple, and so continued until 1S32. That vear a large section of Shiloh church 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 9I 

and congregation, together with a number who had removed from other 
states to Rockville, resolved to start a new enterprise at that place. .*\ccord- 
ingly, on August ii, 1832, after a sermon by the Kev. John Thompson, a 
church consisting of forty members was organized, with the Rev. S. H. 
McNutt as pastor. Henry Anderson, James L. Allen and James McCamp- 
bell were chosen ruling elders ; the two latter were then ordained and the 
three installed as ruling elders of the Rockville Presbyterian church. Early 
in 1833 they erected the old First church. 

In 1835 ^°^'- McNutt, who had served the church as stated supply, be- 
came the regular pastor, and officiated as such until 1846, when by mutual 
consent his pastoral relations to the church was dissolved, and he was fol- 
lowed by the Rev. William Y. Allen. In March, 1839, the church reported 
one hundred and thirty members to the general assembly, only nine of whom 
remained in the bounds of the congregation in 1877, a large number having 
died and removed, many emigrating to the far \\'est. In 1880 Dr. Beaty 
was the only surviving minister of old Shiloh ; all the members of the old 
organization have passed away except John C. Gilkeson and Margaret and 
Isabella Gilkeson. In 1839 forty-one members withdrew and formed a sep- 
arate church known as the Second Presbyterian church of Rockville (New 
School). The First Presbyterian church was now known as Old School. In 
April, 1842, the First church reported one hundred and sixteen members: in 
1843, one hundred and thirty- four; and in 1845, one hundred and forty-four, 
which last number was the largest e\er reported. In 1859, tlie membership 
was about ninety. * ''■' * In 1862, Rev. W. Y. Allen requested the 
church to unite with him in asking the presbytery to dissolve the pastoral 
relation existing between him and the church, both of which requests were 
granted, and after a pastorate of almost sixteen years Mr. Allen closed his 
labors in this pulpit. The Rev. S. H. McNutt succeeded 5s stated supply 
one year, and was succeeded in June, 1863, by the Rev. Reaubien in the same 
capacity. The latter resigned in November, 1864. and moved to Philadel- 
phia. The pul])it was then practically vacant for one year, after which Rev. 
John Mitcliell served a year and resigned. Rev. Dr. Jewett, a Congregational 
minister from Terre Haute, came next and supplied the church until the 
reunion in 1869. In 1866 James R. McArthur, from .-\labama, was added 
to the bench of ciders, and in i8r)8 1). M. Maxwell, T. X. Rice and W. L. Mc- 
Millen were ordained ruling elders. The tiirec last, with J. C. Gilkeson and 
Levi Sidwell, constituted the bench of elders at the time of the reunion. On 
April 22, 1839, forty-one members withdrew and organized the Second 



92 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Presbyterian church of Ruckville ( Xew School), as before mentioned. 
James L. Allen and David Todd were chosen ruling elders. Rev. S. G. 
Lowry, of Crawfordsville, was the stated supply from July 15, 1839, to 
July 15, 1847. During his pastorate one hundred and twenty-three members 
wre receixed into the church. A house of worship was erected, and on 
November 22. 1840. \\as dedicated, the sermon being preached by Rev. John 
S. Thompson, of Crawfordsville. In 1847, Rev. Lowry was succeeded by 
Rev. W. JVI. C'heexer, who was the next year regularly installed pastor, and 
continued as such until the latter part of the year 1849. when lie gave way 
to the Rev. W. D. Rositer. The fruits of Mr. Cheevers ministry was the 
addition of twenty-eight into the church. Rev. George A. Adams preached 
from 1852 to 1835, and added thirteen to the church. Re\'. John .\. Tiffany 
succeeded .Mr. Adams in 1856, and remained as stated supply two years, in 
which time nine united with the church. In the early part of 1859, Rev. 
John O. Blythe began his labors, remaining eight months and receiving two 
into the church. The next stated supply was Rev. John Hawks, whose period 
of service extended from 1859 to 1866. During six years of this time one 
hundred and four memljers were added to the congregation. On February 3. 
1862, I. G. Coffin, previously elected, was ordained a ruling elder. The 
spring and summer months of 1867 found the pulpit only occasionally sup- 
plied, but un October 23d the Re\'. John M. Bishop began his ministrations. 

"On June 1 1, 1869, the elders of this society addressed a communication 
to the First Presbyterian ciiurch of Rockville, proposing a union of the two, 
and at a congregational meeting of that church, held Julv 17-22, the ])roposi- 
tion was accepted. Accordingl}-, on Deceml)er 29th the union was furmallv 
consummated at a called meeting of the (ireencastle presbytery, convened at 
Terre Haute, the Crawfordsville presbytery, to which the First church be- 
longed, having previously set it off for that pur])ose. Rev. John M. Bishop 
was continued jjastor of tlie uniteil church until October 2T,. 1872, when Rev. 
Henry L. Dickerson was installed stated supply. Early in the summer of 
1877 the latter resigned his charge and removed to Dan\i!le, Indiana. Rev. 
William H. Hillis was the next to sen'e as pastor."' 

It may be stated that in 1880 this church bad a membership of one hun- 
dred and forty-one. In 1870 a fine large l)rick edifice was erected and 
served well its purpose until the ])resent church structure was built in 1891, 
or rather remodeled, and is known as Memorial church. A pipe organ was 
added in .\pril. 1910, at a cost of two thousand fi\e hundred dollars. The pres- 
ent membership of this church is two hundred and sixty. The pastors since the 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INTILWA. 93 

last nientioned have been as follows: Revs. W. 11. llillis, truiu 1879 to 
1881 ; James Onielvena, from 1881 to .Vugust, 1887: James Kerns, from 
January 17, 1887, to 1888: J. 11. Sharrard, from May 17, 1888, to March 
20, 1895; J. P. Roth, from June 17, 1896, to May 29, 1899; J. C. Christie, 
from 1899 to 1903; H. L. Nave, from January 10, 1904, to i()o8; \V. B. 
Chancelor, from 1908 to the present date. 

In conclusion, it may be added that when the ( )ld and New School 
churches united, the bells of the two societies were taken from their re- 
spective buildings and recast into one which hangs in the lower in the rear 
of the new church. This is indeed a beautiful symbol of the perfect union 
of the two church bodies. The old Second church building, in the west jjart 
of town, was converted into a carriage shop for Foster Brothers. The old 
First church was sold to John Tate and others and for a time used for school 
purposes. Afterwards the Colored Baptists held services in it and later it 
became an implement house. 

In Lil>erty township, in 1847, ^ Presbyterian congregation was organ- 
ized with twent}' menil>ers, and the following year a meeting house was built. 
It was burned and rebuilt in 1877. at a cost of eight hundred dollars. Rev. 
James Ashmore was the lirst jjastor of which we ha\'e anv record. Re\'. T. 
A. Williams was pastor in 1 cS8o and then the church had a membership of 
sixty. 

In Reserve township a Presbyterian church was erected in 1853. The 
first minister was Rev. John Haw ks, who organized the congregation and car- 
ried on the building operations of the first church. He was succeeded by 
Rev. Thomas Gritifith and he by Rev. William Wilmer, who in the later 
seventies was followed by Rev. Stinson from Kentucky, who had about forty 
members under his charge. 

In Adams township, the New Bethel Presbyterian cliurch was located 
on the Rockville gravel road, two and a half miles out of Rockville. It was 
organized in 1859 by twelve members, luir a time the congregation wor- 
shiped in the school house, but later a nine hundred dollar church building 
was erected. Rev. John Hawke was the first pastor of this church. .\t one 
time more than sixt\- names were on the church roll and fort\- were added 
after a single revi\al period. For many years this societv was the means of 
doing a great deal of good in the conimnuity in which it was located. 

At Judson. in Washington township, there was a Presl)vterian church 
organized early in the seventies and in 1873 a luiilding was erected hv this 
denomination and the Methodists in union. 



94 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Another Preslnterian cliurch was formed in Liberty township ]\Iarch 
10,1876, Rev. J. W. Hanna being the first preacher. This never came to be 
a large congregation. 

PRESENT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES. 

In 1912 the Presbyterian churches of this county are located as follows: 
Rockville, ^Memorial church, with two hundred and sixty members ; Mt. 
Herman church, at Howard, which was moved in from the country in 1901 
and now has a membership of fifty-five; New Bethel, three and a half miles 
out of Rockville. an old society that has virtually gone down, but the few re- 
maining meml)ers still hold the church property, and have occasional services: 
the Guion-Jutlson church with fifty-five memljers ; Bethany church was a 
country church until about 1910, when it was removed to the town of Mar- 
shall and now has a membership of ninety-one; Montezuma has a Presby- 
terian church of thirty members and owns its own manse. 

The Cumberland f^resbyterians had a juiut Iniilding in Liljerty township 
at one time and a small congregation. 

LXITED PRESBVTERI.ANS. 

A society of this denomination was organized in Greene township in 
1858, by the union of the Associate Reform Presbyterians. Associate Presby- 
terians and Cmenanters. The next }"ear they coiumenced to erect a place for 
worship, which was finished in i860. Its cost w^as less than eight hundred 
dollars. \\'illiam G. Spenser was the first ordained minister of this church. 
In 1880 the society had a membership of forty-four. The church was located 
on section 35. 

This branch of Presbyterianism was founded in Scotland in 1733 by 
members who disliked certain things connected with the old Presbvterian 
creed. In 1753 it established its first church in this country, at Philadelphia. 
In 1779 this sect united with the Reformed Presbyterians and formed the 
Associate Presl^yterian denomination. The .\ssociate Presbyterian church 
of Portland Mills, originally called the Raccoon, was organized February 19, 
1829, by Rev. James P. Miller, a missionaiy worker appointed by the synod. 
The first pastor here was Rev. Nathaniel Ingels, who was followed by James 
Dixon, who after a quarter of a century of faithful work, rested from his 
labors. The first meeting house was made of logs and was erected in 1831. 
This was succeeded in 1850 by a large frame building and again in 1874 



PARKE /\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 95 

another took the place of that structure and cost the congregation two thou- 
sand six hundred dollars. It seated six hundred persons. 

At present the denomination has in this county is not strong, if indeed 
there be an organization at all. 

CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. 

The Christian church at Rockville was organized in September, 1838, 
with sixteen members, and the next year a church building 30 l)y 40 feet was 
erected on lot No. "jt, of the original town plat. William Cooper was the 
contractor and Joseph Ralston assisted him in the work of building. For 
twenty years and more this sect carried forward a praiseworthy work. In 
1858 a large number of the members rela.xed their connection when a re- 
organization was effected, thirty-nine men and women placing their names on 
the new roll. In i86j there were over eighty communicants. Strong inter- 
est was manifested for a time, but in 1865 the church becarne completely 
disorganized and lapsed for a period of ten years, no service being held dur- 
ing that time. On February 2^,, 1875, a society of Christians was fomied 
from the Bo)'d school house. Both that and the preaching place were called 
"Whitehall." By August, 1875, through Thomas Boardman, the church 
was transferred to Rockville, to unite with those of the same faith in that 
town. The congregation was raised to sixty-four members. At the end of 
four years attendance flagged and not over a dozen attended services. Ac- 
cordingly, on November 21, 1879, Thomas Boardman addressed a letter to 
each of the brethren exhorting them to attend on the 30th and assist in an- 
other organization. This call was answered by thirty-one persons renewing 
their membership. Of the present of this church it may be said, that it now 
numbers about one hundred and thirty and has a frame edifice and property 
worth about five thousand dollars. This was built in 1894. The present 
pastor is Rev. William T. Barbre, now on his fifth year as the minister. 

At Catlin a Christian church was organized in Raccoon township, alxnit 
1867, with a membership of forty-two. .\ house of worship was erected at 
a cost of one thousand six hundred dollars in the village of Catlin. In 1871-2 
Jacob Wright held a well attended revival. This church had its own troubles 
from time to time, and the faithful few numbered only twenty-five in 1880. 
The building still stands, liut the society has gone down. 

In Jackson township, the Christians erected a church thirty by forty 
feet, in 1873, which building cost two thousand dollars, and had a seating 
capacity of five himdred. Previous to that these people worshiped with the 



96 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Methodists, in the grove and at the mill. The house was dedicated April 10, 
1874, by Thomas Goodman. Here numerous revivals and special services 
were held and many were added to the church on profession of faith. This 
church is located in the sprightly little town of Lena. The church here is 
not flourishing well at this date. 

In Greene township the Christian people built the first house of worship 
in 1839 at Portland Alills, "in the face of secular opposition," wrote one of its 
leaders man\- years since. Up to 1880 there had been established three dis- 
tinct societies of this order in this township, the first in 1839, which society 
erected a church in 1850, costing one thousand five hundred dollars. The 
first minister was Rev. J. M. Harris. The second was the congregation that 
built a building at Bank's Springs, on sectiori 5, in 1840, and this was a log 
structure, followed by a frame house thirty-five by forty feet. The third 
society was one that joined with other denominations of the community in 
erecting a union church building at Parkville, in 1865. This building burned 
later. In 1870, the Christians, through the efforts of James H. Jack, built 
a church costing one thousand seven hundred dollars. This was free to all 
denominations when not in use by this people. 

In Sugar Creek township. Pleasant Grove Christian church (Xew 
Light), so called Ijy many, was instituted at the school house in 1868, where 
meetings continued to be held until 1870, when a church was erected thirty- 
two by forty-two feet, costing one thousand dollars. Rev. L. W. Bannon 
was the first minister and organizer, and began with a membership of thirty 
persons. In 1881 this church had a working membership of one hundred and 
sixty. 

The New Lights, or a branch (or another name for Christians), built in 
Howard township in 1835 a log building in which to worship. It' served a 
decade, when they purchased the old Missionary Baptist church in conjunc- 
tion with the Methodist people and occupied the same jointly. 

At present ( 1912) the Christian churches of Parke county are: The 
Rockxille church. L'nion church, four miles west of Rockville, has fifty 
members, but no regular pastor. Christian chapel, or Daly's church, in the 
south part of the county where Rev. Chester Fiddler, of Terre Haute, 
preaches occasionally: membership about ninety. At 2\Iecca. this .society 
has a good frame building and a small congregation. .\t Montezuma, there 
is an old church and a congregation of about forty memljership. At Bloom- 
ingdale the church numbers about one hundred and twenty, worships in a 
frame building. Rev. Elvin Daniels, preacher. At Byron, there is a brick 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 97 

church and about seventy-five members; Rev. C. C. Dobson, of Brownsburg, 
preaches here. At Parkville there is a frame church and about sixty mem- 
bership; Rev. Bratton preaches once a month. At Bellemore and Coxville 
there are church buildings, but no regular services at this date. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES. 

It is believed that Methodism was first taught in Parke county by the 
giant preacher from old Virginia, Rev. William Cravens, who probably 
preached the first Methodist sermon north of Big Raccoon creek, and he, with 
Father Armstrong, John Strange and William H. Smith, founded the church 
in Parke county. There was preaching here long before there was any organ- 
ized society of Methodists, but in 1823 there were enough of the Methodist 
faith here to meet in classes formed and which met at private houses, and at 
least as early as 1826 Rev. William Smith, later known by all as "Billy 
Smith." preached regularly in the old log court house on the north side of the 
public square in Rockville. It was probably in 1826 that the church was 
regularly organized, and from that time on religious pioneering went forward 
with the felling of forest trees and the killing out of snakes and wolves, both 
so numerous here then. The early church books show the naines of Cornelius 
Sunderland and wife, and Greenberg and Lavicie Ward. In 1828 Rev. 
Samuel Brinton took charge of the church as its regular pastor. His labors 
were mightily blessed and for many years this was the most prosperous 
church within Parke county. 

From the pen of Editor and Author Beadle, of Rockville. and from 
historic accounts published in the Rockville Tribune, the writer is able to 
here reproduce the early history of the Methodist church at Rockville, which 
is indeed complete and very interesting. We quote as follows from this 
historic account given in 1879-80: 

"The chastening and hallowed influences of the gospel followed close 
upon the footsteps of the pioneers; and a settler's cabin was hardly up before 
an itinerant was there with his Bible and hymn book, gathering the family for 
devotion around the altar in the wilderness. The first settlers were an in- 
tensely earnest people; they manifested no half-way religious feeling, but 
worked for the Lord as they worked for themselves, with loud shouts and 
heavy blows. An early missionary in these parts, probably the first of the 
Methodist faith in the county, and the one above named, was William Cravens 
of Virginia, a fearless and remarkable man. He was a mason bv trade, and 
(7) 



98 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

had been dissipated, but was converted and took a singular and solemn vow 
of abstinence by putting his bottle into, and making it a part of, a wall which 
he was building. He was powerful of frame, a slaveholder, and quite 
wealthy. He abandoned his former vices, and liberated his slaves. Taking 
the pulpit, he assailed the great evils of Southern society; he declaimed against 
<lrinking, gambling, horse-racing and slavery as an institution. This pro- 
voked dangerous opposition, and mobs threatened his life. But he was bold 
as a lion. \\"ith Christian intrepidity he sent his appointments to those who 
waited for his coming with vengeance in their hearts, never failing to meet 
his engagements at the stated hour, nor to utter with unshaken firmness his 
daring sentiments. He became famous in Virginia as a preacher, and hardly 
less noted in Indiana. He did his Master's work and counted not the cost. 
John Strange and another named Armstrong, able and distinguished men 
who left flattering and fascinating traditions among the people, jjlanted 
Methodism in this part of Parke county. Accounts are given of [Methodist 
preaching as early as 1822. In 1824 Grimes was the circuit rider, and meet- 
ings were held at John Leinbarger's on the Leatherwood, and at James 
Starin's on the Big Raccoon. The last place is now called Pleasant Valley. 
A church was subsequently built there, but in the seventies had become unfit 
for use and was aliandoned. After Grimes came Anderson, a brother-in- 
law of Strange. The latter was a powerful teacher of the word; it is said 
that he was the first presiding elder, and was followed by Armstrong and 
James Thompson. The first log building in Rockville occupied for stated relig- 
ious services was the old log court house ; this was used until the brick school 
house, long since gone into decay, was constructed. In 1832, the Methodists, 
Baptists and Presbyterians were still using this building for church services. 
The new court house was then used by all denominations. Occasionally there 
were great awakenings, and within these buildings were stirring revivals. 
The old Presbyterian church, the first house of worship, proper, erected in 
Rockville, was built in 1833. The Methodists enjoyed the privilege of its 
frequent use. In 1834, the sainted Bishop Roberts visited Rockville, and by 
invitation of Rev. McNutt preached in this house. A little later in the same 
season, Richard Hargrave, a talented young Methodist divine, was passing 
through the country and was invited to deliver a sermon in this Presbyterian 
church. He delivered in all nine discourses which it is alleged set the people 
to thinking on theology. It should be remarked that among the leading men 
were found many skeptics. 

"Cornelius Sunderland was foremost in founding the first class. Smith 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, IN1)L\NA. 99 

was on the circuit in 182O and laid the foundation of Methodist success. A 
little later came -Cornelius Swank and Samuel Brinton, when many were re- 
ceived into the church. Swank was a better man than a preacher. Still 
later came Samuel Cooper. Prominent among the lay members of those 
early days were : Elisha Adamson and wife, Samuel Noel, John Linkswiler 
and wife Rebecca, Samuel Baker, David Reeder, James Justus, Scott Noel 
and wife, Gen. John INleacham. Alark 2\leacham, Dr. Peter O. Stryker, John- 
son S. White and wife Hannah, Thompson Ward and wife,- Miles Hart and 
wife. Uncle Perry Cummings, Greenberry Ward, Governor Wright and wife 
Louisa, and those whose names have been lost with the flight of years. For 
several years betwen 1S33 and 1850 the society was di\ided into three classes; 
one met at the church right after ser\ice. one at Governor Wright's house, 
and the other at Dr. Stryker's house. An era of great prosperity to the 
church began in 1833 and continued till 1850. In the spring of 1855, there 
was a powerful revival and many members were added to the church. Mrs. 
Elisha Adamson was a spiritual and talented woman and Mrs. Governor 
Wright was an e.xceedingly pious and hard working church laborer, who 
always shouted in meeting. Miss Mary Watt was another devoted Christian 
lady. In these three gifted women the spirit of fer\'ent work and consecra- 
tion were happily blended and sweetly displayed. Miss Watt was a school 
teacher and died in 1847." 

The society had used successively the log court house, the brick school 
house, and the new court house, but in iS^y decided to build a church. Their 
numbers were indeed few enough, and their means small enough, for such 
an undertaking, and the burden came hea\'ily on the iew abler ones. But 
they succeeded in building a large house, now long since known as the "'Old 
Church." It was finally sold to the .\frican Methodist people and used by 
them until about 1900, when it was torn tlown. It is related that Samuel 
Noel mortgaged his farm for mouey with which to complete this church 
building, and possibh- others did the same thing. Its cost was two thousand 
five hundred dollars. A parsonage was built two or three years later. The 
Indiana conference was held in this building the year after its completion. 
It served the congregation twenty-eight years and was then abandoned, the 
society returning for another year to the court house. Rev. Thomas Mere- 
dith held the last services in the old church in 1S63. The ne.xt spring the 
foundation for a new building was laid, and that year the house was finished. 
Rev. Meredith circulated the subscription and raised the monev with which 
to luiild the church. It was erected on lot 30 of the original town i)lat of 
Rockville. The oldest record book begins at the datings in 1S37-8. 



lOO PARKE AND VERMIIXION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Of the present church building and society at Rockville, let it be under- 
stood that the church erected in 1865-6 served until about 1900, when it was 
really rebuilt, the old walls being used and new ones provided to enlarge the 
church somewhat and in 1910 the building was thoroughly overhauled and a 
new front and rear rooms and modern basement constructed, really making a 
new church edijice of the old structure, giving the present commodious build- 
ing. These recent improvements cost the church ten thousand dollars and 
included the furnace heating plants, a splendid pipe organ, a large gallery, 
carpets, stained windows, etc. It was dedicated by Bishop David H. Moore, 
February 13, 1910. What is known as the Mary L. Noel parsonage belongs 
to this society and is valued at five thousand dollars. 

This is in the Greencastle district of the Methodist church. The present 
membership in Rockville is three hundred and eighty-seven, and the church 
is valued at twenty thousand dollars, which is exclusive of the parsonage 
property. Since 1880, the pastors have been in the following order: Revs. 
John L. Boyd, 1880; L. S. Buckles, 1884; O. R. Beebe, 1885; J. G. Camp- 
bell, 1887; F. M. Pvey; John A. Maxwell, 1895: T. F. Drake, 1896; S. P. 
Colvin began in 1896; H. N. Ogden, 1900; H. L. Davis, 1901 ; F. W. Hixson, 
1903; D. D. Hoagland, 1906; A. P. Delong, 1908; Alfred S. Warriener, 1910 
and still pastor in 1912-3. 

In Reserve township a Methodist church was formed shortly after the 
settlement at Montezuma, on the old canal. The church building was erected 
in 1849, by Rev. Hezekiah Smith, who visited the vicinitj^ about that date and 
infused fresh spiritual life into the settlement. In 1880 the records show a 
membership there of seventv'. 

In Union township, the first Methodist class meetings were held at the 
home of Thomas C. Burton. Much later and in 1846 Canaan church was 
erected. This region was then a part of Rockville circuit, but later was 
known as the Bellemore circuit. In 1868 the society luiilt a new church at 
Bellemore. Bishop Bowman dedicated this building. 

In Raccoon township the first work of Methodism was the first of any 
within the township; the date cannot now be determined, but suffice to 
state that it was at a very early pioneer day. A society was there organized 
in 1825, but preaching had been had, long before that. Another society was 
organized at about the same date at the neighborhood of the brother of the 
noted Rev. John Strange. A church was built on the farm of James Crabb. 
The first to become pastor in Pleasant Valley was Rev. William Taylor. 
This church was quite successful for some time. In 1859 a twent\'-one-day 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. lOl 

revival was held and many added to the church. In 1855, at Pleasant Valley, 
a church was built, and at one time there were more than a hundred and ten 
members enrolled. The society at Bridgeton was organized in 1866. 

In Penn township the Methodists organized and built a church in 1850, 
under Rev. H. Smith and in 1879 there were over a hundred members. 

In Florida township, as in most other townships in the county, barring a 
few only, the Methodists were first in starting church work. The first 
Methodist preaching in this township was held at private houses. Rev. 
William Mac, a local minister, did the first work for the church in this 
region, holding his first meeting at the home of David D. Loree. In 1834, 
Isaac Owens came in as the pioneer missionary minister, preaching his first 
sermon at the house of Capt. Daniel Stringham. a Revolutionary soldier. 
At that meeting eleven united with the church. ^leetings were subserpiently 
held in Mr. Loree's barn and carriage house. The place of meeting was then 
changed to a school house in the northxVest corner of the township and still 
later to one on Banjamine Newton's land. The first church in the township 
was built by this denomination. In the spring of 1850 Friend C. Brown 
deeded an acre of ground in section 7, to the trustees of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church of Florida for the ])urpose of erecting a church upon it. In 
1872 a second church was provided to take the place of the old one. A well 
planned cemeten- was made near this church, and there repose the remains 
of many of the devoted members, as well as others long since departed from 
earthly scenes. In the northwestern portion of the township is another hand- 
some building erected by this same society, at the foot of the bluff, around 
which, on the side of the hill, is a lieautiful cemetery. 

In 1830 Elijah Ward lield meetings in the houses of settlers, and later 
in the log school house, and in a store building, finally at Rose\illc. where 
Rev. William Black preached the first semion in 1859. In i860 a frame 
building was erected at an expense of one thousand two hundred dollars. In 
the autumn of 1870 forty members, under Rew Thomas Marshall, com- 
menced holding meetings in the Dailey school house and efi^ected an organiza- 
tion. Another part of the Roseville congregation organized a church at 
Co.x's school house in the summer of 1869. Churches or classes were also 
fonned at the Doty school house in 1878 and other points within this town- 
ship which has ever been noted for its Methodism. 

In Liberty township a Methodist church was erected in 1846, costing 
three hundred and fifty dollars in cash and much hard labor. The member- 
ship at one time was two hundred, but dwindled to tw'enty-five by i88<:). Rev. 
Isaiah Smith was the first preacher there. 



I02 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

In Jackson township, prior to 1856, worshiped the Methodists in school 
houses, as best they could, but at that date they decided to build, Mansfield 
was chosen as the building site and an edifice was built at a cost of eight 
hundred dollars. 

Prior to 1872 the people of the Methodist faith living in the south por- 
tion of this township concluded to have better church home facilities, hence 
built a neat church at Lena, at a cost of one thousand three hundred dollars. 

In Washington township, in about 1872-3, a Methodist society was or- 
ganized by Rev. James C. Stenior. 

In Sugar Creek township a congregation was organized in 1855, in a 
school house near Daniel Heath's residence of later days, where they wor- 
shiped until 1858, when they built a frame house, which was burned by in- 
cendaries during the Civil war. The house was rebuilt in 1862 and opened 
for worship in January of that year. The society was constituted through 
the efforts of Mr. Edwards, an old ^^'elsh gentleman. It was formed with 
fourteen members and in 1880 had thirt^'-four. A liuilding then in use cost 
one thousand one hundred dollars. 

In Howard township the first church of this or any denomination was 
of rough logs and was erected in 1833, and known as McKenzie's chapel. 
William Smith and William Bilbo were the prime movers in the formation 
of this class. Samuel Cooper was their first minister. 

The African Methodist Episcopal clnirch at Rock\ille was organized in 
1872 by the Rev. Jesse Bass. Patrick Thomas and Louisa Black began a 
protracted effort in Rockville. in May, at Thomas's house, and carried their 
meetings from house to house. In five weeks they were able to form a 
society, composed of the following per.sons : Patrick Thomas. Louisa Black, 
William Lewis, Samuel Kirkman, ^^"illiam Brower. Sarah Williams. Jesse 
Brower, Eli Kirkman. Cynthia Kirkman. Ransome Colile. John Robinson, 
George Robinson, George Williams and Jerry Craven. This earnest little 
band of colored worshipers, as soon as they had organized, purchased the 
old Methodist Episcopal church, for one thousand fi\'e hundred dollars. 
Among the first pastors were Revs. Nathan Bass. John !\IcSmith. John Hart, 
John Myers. Johnson Burden and W. S. Lankford. The church building 
was described in 1880 as being forty-four 1n- sixty feet on the ground, and 
was a good substantial building, standing on lot number 20, in the West 
division, and had a frontage of one hundred feet and was one hundred and 
sixty feet deep. They soon added to the building and provided a comfortable 
parsonage, the entire property having cost them two thousand dollars. Thev 



PARKE AND \ERMII.LION COUNTIES, INDIANA. IO3 

were, in 1880, free from all debts, save the small sum of forty dollars. The 
society then numbered sixty-five. The Sunday school then numbered forty- 
nine pupils. Prof. John Wilsnn Jieing superintendent and Augustus Roberts, 
secretary. 

The above named building served until about 1900, when it was torn 
down and the present building erected on its site. The church now has a 
membership of about forty-two persons and, while not large in numbers, is 
doing an excellent work among and for the few colored population of Rock- 
ville who espouse the Alethodist Episcopal faith. The present district super- 
intendent or presiding elder, Rev. Charles Hunter, has charge of the work 
in a very large scope of Indiana territory and .is an old soldier of the Civil 
war, a man of good learning, extended travel and highly intelligent, just the 
right man to forward the best interests of the church and in every way equal 
to many of the white presiding elders in this and adjoining states. The 
present pastor is Rev. Hanrly Thompson, who has recently been ap]:)ointed to 
Rockville church. 

At one time there were two other churches of this denomination within 
this county, but owing to removals of the floating colored population these 
have ceased to exist as societies. 

LORENZO OOW AT ROCKVILLE. 

From an interview with the pioneer lady, Mrs. George W. Sill, in the 
eighties, the subjoined is gleaned : 

"A few vears after the noted Lorenzo Dow was announced to preach 
here and the word was sent all over the county, awakening great interest. 
The day came, and with it as motley a congregation as Parke county ever 
saw. A huge log, roughly leveled, was the pulpit. Near it were a few seats 
occupied by the women and young children, and a few of the most "'sub- 
dued" men. Behind them for some distance were all sorts and conditions of 
jieople, sitting on logs and stumps, or stood leaning on their long rifles, or 
against the trees. On the outskirts of the crowd were several hunters clad 
in buck-skin with beaded moccasins, the whole adorned by the handiwork of 
squaws, and to one side was a small group of Franco-Indian half-lireeds and 
with them two or three full blooded Indians. Xo one had seen the ])reachcr 
enter the crowd, when most unexpectedly he bounded on the log and, dotting 
his wolf-skin cap, glared around in a manner that seemed more like insanity 
than anything else, giving them near him a decided shock. Tn a minute the 



I04 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

whole audience was hushed ; then in a strange, quavering voice, drawing the 
vowel sounds to great length, now recited these lines: 

'The day is almost gone, 

The evening shades appear; 
Oh, may we all remember well ' 

The night of death draws near.' 

"The effect was electric ; every eye in the motley audience was fixed on 
the speaker, as if by a terrible fascination and having thus prepared the way, 
he proceeded to preach in a more natural tone. His illustrations were drawn 
largely from the common life of his hearers. He spoke of their combats 
with wolves and serpents, and symbolized the contests of the human soul ; he 
touched upon their early trials and ill health, and pointed to the Comforter; 
he alluded to children already buried in the young settlement and to the 
graves of kindreds already left behind, and dwelt with great energy on the 
promise of a re-union in the skies. The few who remember the scene cannot 
say that any marked or permanent effect was produced. Most of the hear- 
ers came from mere curiosity and were too much interested in the preacher's 
eccentricities to \\eigh his words." 

PRESENT METHODIST CHURCHES. 

In the autumn of 191 2 the following churches of this denomination 
were in existence in Parke county: 

Bellemore and Marsliall circuit, 175 members; value of church property 
$4,000. Aside from this there is one parsonage valued at $700. Pastor. 
T. B. Markin. 

Bloomingdale, with 143 membership, a $1,200 parsonage and a church 
valued at $6,400. Pastor, O. M. McKinney. 

Carbon and Sharon circuit, membership, 100: two churches Aahied at 
$5,000. Pastor, Ray Stevenson. 

Catlin and Minchel circuit, with a membership of 170, two churciies, 
valued at $6,000. This circuit included Bridgeton. Pastor, Jesse Bogue. 

Linebarger chapel, membership 36, church valued at $1,500. Pastor, 
Julius Pfeiffer. 

Mecca and Bethel circuit, with a membership of 130: three buildings, 
valued at $6,000. Pastor, Herbert Webster. 

Montezuma, with a membership of 150; a brick church valued at $6,000. 
Pastor, J. J. Davis. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. I05 

Rockville, with a membership of 387, one church valued at $20,000; 
parsonage valued at $5,000. Pastor, Alfred S. Warriener. 

Rosedale, with a membership of 164. one church valued at $6,000; one 
parsonage valued at $3,000. Pastor, C. C. Stanforth. 

The above pastors were serving in 191 1 and some of them in 1912. 

In addition to these the African Methodist Episcopal have a church 
spoken of elsewhere, at Rockville. 

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCHES. 

This denomination was organized into a church society in Penn town- 
ship in 1840, but no church was erected until about 1869. It was thirty by 
forty feet in size. The church was formed by Isaac Pickard and John 
Ephlin at a point a mile to the east of Annapolis, in Washington township. 

In Union township this people was well represented at an early day. 
They frequently met at James Bulion's or John McGilvery's houses; also at 
Moses Hill's or Charles Beache's. In 1849 a church was erected on section 
30, called Otterbein. The society grew rapidly and in 1873-4 there were 
reported forty-one members as having been added thereto. In 1866 about 
forty of these people met at the Martin school house to organize a class and 
Joseph McCrary was chosen leader. In March, 1867, they held a revival and 
thirty-one were added to the society. A thirty-by-forty-foot frame church 
was erected and dedicated in November, 1867. James .-\. Smith was minister 
in charge at that date. 

In Sugar Creek township there was in existence in the seventies another 
United Brethren church in the Bristle Ridge neighborliond. 

THE LUTHER.^NS. 

There not being a large German population in Parke county, this denom- 
ination has never had manv societies or churches. In 1830, however, the 
Philadelphia Lutheran Church Society built its church in Greene township. 
It was a log building, used as school house and church, ^\"itbin a year after 
its completion it was burned. In 1835 a second building was erected on Big 
Raccoon, this being a frame structure. Matthias Sappinfield was a leader in 
this society. In 1866 another church was built at a cost of fifteen hundred 
dollars and was located in Greene township on section 15. At first this 
society numbered fifty, but owing to emigration it was greatly reduced in the 



I06 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

passage of years. Several Lutheran ministers went forth after being educated 
here and made for themselves names in the theological world. 

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES. 

The first Catholic services of which we have an account in Parke county 
was in 1854, at the house of Martin Ryan, three miles south of Rockville. 
Mass was read by Rev. La Lamere, who was then the parish priest at Terre 
Haute. Rev. Highland was then appointed by the bishop to the missions of 
Rockville, Montezuma, Greencastle and Bainbridge. He first read mass at 
James Kinney's and later at the home of Patrick Riordan, where it was held 
at diiiferent times for seven years. Finally, a church was built by Father 
Minerod. The members of every other church generously donated to this 
building enterprise. Services were then held, but not oftener, as a rule, than 
once in a month or two. James Bowman gave instructions to the children of 
the parish for a number of years. Next this work was carried on by Mrs. 
E. J. Hughes, who voluntarily gave her services. 

In Reserve township what was styled the Church of the Visitation of the 
Blessed Virgin Mary was established after the Civil war. Father McCarty 
was the first priest in charge. .\ church hmise was erected at a cost of one 
thousand dollars, the lot having been donated by Mr. Davis, of Rockville, 
late in the seventies. A dwelling for the priest was soon built near the chapel, 
while the cemetery was located two miles south of town. This Catholic 
church was fornief! in the town nf Alontezuma. 

OTHER CATHOLIC CHURCHES. 

In the autumn of 1912 the Catholic society had churches in Parke county 
as follows: At Rockville, where the present building was built in 1886, and 
is in charge of Father Gorman : it is known as St. Joseph's. There is a church 
at Mecca, one at Montezuma and one at Diamond, all of these congregations 
being served by the Rockville paster, except the one at Diamond which is 
under Father Cobb. 

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 

More than a quarter of a century ago the following account of the 
Society of Friends in Parke county was written after careful compilation and 
research, by Hon. Robert Kelly: 

"The first meeting of the Friends in Parke county took place at the 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. IO7 

residence of Adam Siler in 1825, and were kept up at that point from 1825 
on for more tiian one year. Then tlie settlement at Bloomfielil and Rcjcky 
Run began to assume shape; tiie phice of meeting was changed to the house 
of Simon Rubottom, where they continued until the sixth month, 3th, 1826. 
At this date the first meeting house was erected and a pre])arati\e meeting 
established by the authority of the Honey Creek monthly meeting. Jeremiah 
Siler and Mary Kelly were the clerks of this preparative meeting, the records 
of which up to the twelfth njonth, ist, 1827, were lost. 

"Bloomfield meeting was estalilished twelfth month, ist. 1827, by an 
order of the Blue River quarterly meeting, dated Lick Creek, Orange county, 
tenth month, 27th, 1827. The committee having charge of its establishment 
were John Bray, J. Jones, James Rhodes, J. Hadley. and C. Hill. They 
appointed the first seventh day in each month for meeting. At this meeting 
M. Kelly, Payton Wilson, N. Newlin. S. Allen, and Isaiah Pemberton were 
appointed to have the meeting house grounds sur\eyed, and a grave-yard 
staked off, and M. Reynolds, John Newlin, and Isaiah Pemberton were ap- 
pointed trustees of the house. At the monthly meeting held second month, 
2nd, 1828, M. Kelly and J. Siler were appointed to receive and report accounts 
of sufferings to the meeting. The sufferings alluded to were such as origi- 
nated from fines collected by law from members in indigent circumstances for 
non-conformity to the military la\ys of the state, which at that time, and for 
several years afterwards, required every able bodied man between the ages of 
eighteen and forty-five to muster at stated periods, or on the call of the jiroper 
offices, failure to respond being punished liy fine. Friends, to be consistent 
with their well-known peace proclivities, refused to ]iay, or directly or in- 
directly to give up property, hence they were made more or less annoyance, 
and sometimes distressed, by the loss of indispensable articles which poorer 
members could not of themselves replace. This being brought to the notice 
of the yearly meeting, it. true to its jirinciples, came to the relief of the clis- 
tres.sed. and itself bore the burdens: and the more successfully to accomplish 
this it required each monthly meeting to appoint a committee to take cogni- 
zance of all cases of distress within their respective limits, and report, when 
they were forwarded to the meeting for sufferings, which furnished the proper 
relief. 

"Another source of trouble which the early Friends had to contend was 
with the difference of opinion on a doctrinal phase denominated Hicksism, 
which resulted in a wide-spread and damaging separation under the leadership 
of F.lias 1 licks. On the peculiar doctrine set fortii by this new .sect, an 



I08 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

article by Prof. B. C. Hobbs, of Bloomingdale, is very explicit and reads as 
follows : 

CAUSE OF THE HICKSITE SEPARATION. 

"Sixty years ago the New Testament was common as a school book, but 
a complete copy of the Bible was not often found in the family of Friends. 
When read it was not expected to be explained, except by ministers, and as a 
consequence there was a great indefiniteness in the religious opinions of too 
many on doctrinal subjects. 

"They accepted the opinions of those in whom they had confidence when 
they were positively asserted and capable and plausible men had great in- 
fluence in society. 

"The Society of Friends at this time was distinguished, as it ever has 
been, for benevolence, temperance and the social virtues. They were practi- 
cal ChristiaiK. This lack of establishment in Christian faith rendered the 
hearts of too manv a favorable soil for the seeds of heresy to take root and 
bring forth evil. 

"About the years 1818 to 1825-8 Elias Hicks, a man who embraced 
in his character the appearance, language and manners of the straightest of 
his sect, and was most sympathetic and benevolent toward the poor, the 
afflicted and the oppressed, was known to advance sentiments which under- 
valued the mediatorial offices and atoning merits of Christ. He often spoke 
of Him as only a good man. That the Holy S]jirit was in Him as it is in 
us; that His death and sufferings on Calvary were of no value to us, only as 
an example in a devoted life ; that His blood was only a metaphor, meaning 
His life or the life of the Holy Spirit. He denied the existence of a devil 
or an evil agent apart from man"s passions and taught that we are all by 
nature like Adam in the creation and fall. That the account in Genesis of 
the creation, the fall of our first parents and the Garden of Eden, were 
figurative and unreal: that we must be saved alone bv the Holy Spirit in us; 
and that the Scriptures were not all inspired ; such as were written by the in- 
spiration of God are to be believed; such as were not, are of no more liinding 
authority than other books; and that each must judge for himself. 

"His plausible and winning manners and persuasive eloquence led many 
unsuspecting men and women astray. Many saw the error of his teaching 
from the beginning and gave timely warning. Some took one side and some 
the other. The controversy waxed earnest and culminated in a separation in 
1828, in several yearl}^ meetings in America, beginning in ISTew York and 
ending in Indiana. Meetings, families and friends were divided. Wounds 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. IO9 

were made, never to be healed. Some were led on in the separation by their 
love of a libertine faith, while others were influenced by the strong ties of 
friendship and social relations. 

''There are some still living who can remember the work of the dark 
angel. Such recur to it with sad hearts. 

"The effects of this separation were, however, not without some good. 
It stirred up the whole society to an earnest searching for the faith once 
delivered to the saints and from that day to this the Society of Friends have 
held a sound faith, in the doctrines of redemption by the blood of the Lord 
Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

"Although the date of the beginning of this trouble, in the United States. 
was some years prior to the settlement of Friends here, yet its first appearance 
in this part of Indiana was not until 1828. A paper was prepared that year 
by the Indiana yearly meeting, directed to each monthly meeting, on this 
subject, in which, among other things, the doctrine of Friends was clearly 
and fully set forth. The paper was read at Bloomfield monthly meeting 
third month, ist, 1828, which endorsed it and took action confirming its 
acceptance by an order that it be spread upon the record, and by the appoint- 
ment of a standing committee to look after certain spurious books and 
pamphlets purporting to contain the doctrine of Friends which were being 
circulated. It is a fact worthy of note that while almost every section of the 
country, from Canada to Virginia and from Vermont to Illinois, was con- 
vulsed with the elements of Hicksism, within the limits of Parke county 
proper there was scarcely a ripple. In the monthly meeting held the fifth 
month, 2nd, 1829, the representatives of the quarterly meeting produced three 
copies of Evans' Exposition and a Testament as a donation from Philadel- 
phia yearly meeting, and other books having accumulated which were intended 
for the use of the members, a committee was appointed to establish a library 
and appoint a librarian, they recommending William Pickard for the position. 
Rules were afterward adopted for the government of the library and at 
various times valuable additions had been made to it, by purchase and 
donation, among others being a present of several important works and 
pamphlets from England and Philadelphia, consisting of a hundred and 
forty volumes and fifteen volumes purchased by the librarian. Philip Siler. 

"The establishment of W^hite Lick quarterly meeting was made on the 
third to seventh day in second month, 1831. White Lick. Fairfield. Bloom- 
field and Vermillion monthly meeting joining in the request. 

"The first proposition for the establishment of the \\'^estern quarterly 
meeting came from the Sugar River monthly meeting third month. 5th. 1834. 



\ 



no PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

A committee uf the above mentioned and Blooinfield meetings was appointed 
and met at the latter place un 8th of fourth month, 1834, which agreed to 
ask for a meeting to be known as the Western quarterly meeting and that its 
assemblies take place on the second to seventh day, in the second, fifth, eight 
and eleventh months. The report was adopted by the yearly meeting which 
answered the request of the committee, by establishing it as required on the 
second to se\enth day, of second niunth, 1836. nearly two years after the 
pro])osition was first made. 

"The first meeting held in the quarterly meeting house, built by Reuben 
Holden, in 1834, was on the 8th day of sixth month, of that year, only one 
end of the building being completed. At this meeting, E.xam Outland, 
Stephen Kersey, Jesse Hobson and Lot Lindlev were appointed as the first 
representati\-es of the Western quarterly meeting." 

Union church was instituted by the Societ}' of Friends, Ijut the meetings 
were entirely undenominational. A church thirty-five by forty feet was 
built in 1875, at a cost of one thousand dollars. On Christmas night the 
same was dedicated. Levi Woody was the first preacher in charge. 

\\'hat was known as the Christian I'nion church, on the Rock\ille and 
]\Iecca road, two miles from the former place, had at one date a membershii) 
of eighty, but In- removals and death the society went down. A neat chapel 
,\ as erected, costing eight hundred dollars. Rev. William Halt was the first 
to ]3reach their regularly, and following him came Revs. Myers. Jacob Wright. 
Boer and Nathan Wright. 

UNIVERSALISTS. 

This denomination has never flourished to any great extent in Parke 
county. In Sugar Creek township, in 1859, there was a society of this sect 
M-ho built a church which was dedicated on Christmas night of that year, b}' 
Rev. T. C. Eaton. The building was thirty by forty feet in size and was 
erected on land owned by a Mr. Pickard. By 1880, the society had virtually 
gone down and the building was no longer used for church purposes. There 
have been several other attempts to maintain such churches, but all to no 
avail, the sentiment in iavor of universal salvation not being strong enough 
in this localitv. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

CIVIC SOCIETIES IN PARKE COUNTY. 

Freemasonry was first introduced into Parke cuunt\- in 1N44 li_\" a dis- 
pensation to organize Rockville Lodge of F. & A. AI. on May 30th of that 
year. The first meeting was held June 25th, when the following brethren 
attended: Charles Grant. Jeptlia (iarrigus, Caleb Williams, Randolph H. 
Wedding, \>tal W. Coffin. Albert G. Cofifin, David L. Hamilton. Henry 
Slaven and Joseph B. Cornelius. The officers installed were Peter Q. Stryker, 
worshipful master; John Briggs, senior warden; Seba S. Case, junior warden: 
Joseph B. Cornelius, secretary; Charles Grant, treasurer; Randolph H. Wed- 
ding, senior deacon, Albert G. Coffin, junior deacon ; D. L. Hamilton, stew- 
ard and tyler. Joseph C. Smith, Aaron Griffin and John R. Ten Brook were 
the first persons elected to take degrees in this order. The grand lodge of 
Indiana granted a charter May 29, 1845, ^^'^ ^t this time the name of the 
lodge was changed to Parke Lodge, which it is still known as. In 1880 this 
lodge had a membership of forty-nine, and it has always been in a prosperous 
condition. The laying of the corner-stone of the new court house in the 
month of September, 1879, was under the auspices of this lodge and was a 
notable event in the history of the order, as well as of the county government. 
The ceremonv took place in the presence of a fair-sized audience of citizens 
and the lodges from Terre Haute and Judson and delegations of the fraternity 
from Annapolis, Bellemore, Mansfield, Roseville, Harveysburg and other 
places, and was performed by Most Worshipful Grand Master Robert Van 
Valzah, assisted by a full corps of Masonic officials. At the conclusion of the 
ceremonies Dr. Harrison J. Rice, a member of Parke Lodge, deli\ered an 
historical address of great interest and highly befitting the occasion. In the 
casket deposited in the stone was placed a copy of the oration, and of the 
charter of the lodge, with many other articles which it is expected will be 
of curious interest to the citizens of Rockville and Parke county centuries to 
come, perhaps. 

Parke Lodge now (1912) has a membership of one hundred twenty- 
three. It meets in the Masonic hall, owned by the fraternity, jKu-chased in 
1909, and which is large and complete in all of its appointments. The present 



112 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

officers are: W. B. Ceilings, worshipful master; Jacob S. White, senior war- 
den; George L. Laney, junior warden; William Hobson, senior deacon; Ollie 
Decker, junior deacon; M. W. Marshall, secretary; W. H. Hargrave, treas- 
urer; tyler, W. J. Gaebler. 

Parke Chapter No. ■^j, Royal Arch Masons, was secured by an applica- 
tion for dispensation July ii, 1856. At a convocation held on that day by 
Royal Arch Masons there were present Addison L. Roach, M. G. Wilkison, 
John T. Price, H. Alvord. P. Q. Stryker and L. A. Foote and an organiza- 
tion was made by appointing Roach to the chair and Foote as secretary'. A 
committee appointed to procure a dispensation reported October 7th, in which 
it was made known that a dispensation had been obtained from William 
Hacker, most excellent high priest of Indiana. The meeting organized with 
William Hacker, grand high priest, presiding; S. F. Maxwell, king; P. Q. 

Stryker, scribe; Sayer, captain of the host; L. A. Foote, principal 

sojourner; J. S. Dare, royal arch captain; H. Alvord, master of the third 
veil ; John T. Price, master of the second veil ; M. G. Wilkison. master of the 
first veil. A charter was issued by the officers of the grand chapter of In- 
diana, May 21, 1857. At that date the membership was twenty-one. The 
present membership is fifty-nine. This is the only chapter of Royal Arch 
Masons in Parke county. 

Annapolis Lodge No. 127, Free and Accepted Masons, was char- 
tered May 26, 1852, and in the year of Masonry 5852. The first officers 
and charter members were: John M. Wadding, worshipful master; Edward 
D. Laughlin, senior warden; James W. Tucker, junior warden; John D. 
Gifford, secretary; John S. Dare, Simon Vestal, John Kelly. L. B. Dunigan, 
C. N. Harding, David Best, William Sweeney, R. A. Coffin. 

Bridgeton Lodge No. 169, Free and Accepted Masons, was or- 
ganized in 1854. The petitioners for the dispensation were M. G. Wilkinson, 
Mahlon Wilkinson. R. C. Allen, N. B. Smook, John Briggs, Jr., James A. 
Cole and Jeptha Garrigus, all but the last named being members of Parke 
Lodge No. 8. The petition was granted with the title of Whitcomb Lodge. 
M. G. Wilkinson was the first master, and Mahlon WilkinsoM and R. C. Allen 
were wardens. A charter was issued May 30, 1855, and the title of Bridge- 
ton No. 169 was given. The meetings were held in the second story of R. C. 
Allen's wagon shop for eight years, when, in 1863, the limited room and in- 
creased membership made it necessary to provide other quarters, and the lodge 
was removed to the upper story of Dr. Crook's drug store. In 1868 the store 
and contents were burned, including the lodge room, library and other valua- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. II3 

bles. The Crook store was rel)uilt and a lodge room built especially was 
added to the structure. The lodge then flourished as never before. 

At Waterman, in the extreme northwest part of Parke county, Lodiville 
Lodge No. 172, Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered in Alay, 
1855. the first officers and charter members being: J. \l. T. Bright, wurship- 
ful master; N. Thomas, senior warden; A. R. Hood, junior warden; Samuel 
Richmond, secretary; Isaac Carman, Andrew Baker, D. G. Ephlin. 

Montezuma Lodge No. 89, Free and Acce])ted Masons, was 
chartered May 28, 1861, its first officers and charter members l>eing: R. M. 
Gilkinson. worshipful master; Firman Allen, senior warden; Jacob Myers, 
junior warden; George Kretz, treasurer; Thomas Griffith, secretar\- : David 
Phillips, senior deacon ; William Mcintosh, junior deacon. 

In the autumn of 1912 the officers of this lodge were: R. W. Johnson, 
worshipful master; C. S. Overman, senior warden: R. W. Sutton, junior 
warden ; T. A. Welshnans, treasurer : W. P. Montgomery, secretary ; Samuel 
J. Holmes, Frank Arn and T. A. Welshnans, trustees. The membership is 
now se\enty-four. and the liall is \alued at three thousand dollars; it was 
erected in 1902. 

Catlin Lodge No. 402, Free and Accepted Masons, was char- 
tered May 25, i86g, with a membership of sixteen. The charter members 
were : S. T. Catlin, Thomas Harshman, Marshall Gray, A. S. Alden, Thomas 
Akers, John Pence, Asal Riggs, John Lollis, S. R. Beal, Price Hawkins, Ira 
Jones, John Thomas, Har\-ey Gray, L^riah E. Thomas, J. W. Puett and Dr. 
George M. Knight. The lodge met for many years in the Ray hall. 

In Union township the first fraternal society formed was that of the 
Masonic order. An informal meeting was held at the store of James Brack- 
enridge, November 7, 1874, for the purpose of considering the expediency of 
organizing a Masonic lodge, and on December 26, 1874, thirteen members 
met for this object. J. M. Jerome was elected worshipful master; A. B. 
Collings, senior warden; James Brackenridge, junior warden; W. P. Blake, 
treasurer: J. D. W^right, secretary: W. Jerome, senior deacon; P. L. Reid, 
junior deacon ; Albert Beach, tyler. 

Lena Lodge was organized September 29, 1874, in Mui'iihs hall, in the 
town of Lena, Jackson township, with a membership of eight. The officers 
elected were : Wellington Peach, worshipful master ; James Smook, senior 
warden: Levi Woodrum, junior warden; John .\. Welch, secretary; Jacob 
Plummer, treasurer; M. R. Plummer, senior deacon; Mathew G. Ouin, junior 
deacon; Jesse Williams, tyler. A charter was granted May 22. 1877, in the 
(8) 



TI4 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

meantime the lodge working under dispensation. Up to 1880 no death had 
occurred within the circle of the membership. 

PRESENT MASONIC LODGES IN THE COUNTY. 

In 1912 the following Masonic lodges existed within Parke county: 
Parke Lodge No. 8, with one hundred and twenty-three members; Monte- 
zuma No. 89, with seventy-four members; Annapolis No. i2j, with sixty-four 
members; Bridgeton No. i6g. with ime hundred and twenty-tiiree members; 
Lodiville (Silverwood) No. 172, with forty-six members; Rosedale No. 259, 
with eighty -two members; Catlin No. 402, with tifty-eight members; Judson 
No. 518, with fifty members; S3dvania No. 559. with sixty members. 

ODD FELLOWSHIP. 

The oldest Odd b'ellows lodge in Parke county is the one instituted at 
Rockville, Xu\ember 9. 1849, known as Howard Lodge No. 71, by Taylor 
W. Webster, district deputy grand master, of Ladoga, assisted by Joshua 
Ridge, Samuel Noel, W^illiam Kromer. Samuel Sto\er, James Houston and 
William Detrick. It was named in honor of John Howard, the eminent 
philanthropist of England. The charter members were F. W. Dinwiddie, 
Joseph Phillips. Charles W. Stryker. Samuel A. Fisher and William McClure. 
The charter bears the date of January lo, 1850, and among other eminent 
names affixed to it was that of Hon. Schuyler Colfax, a past grand in the order. 
This lodge was organized in the Masonic ball at the court house. The first 
real Odd l-'ellows hall was a twn-story l)uilding, which stood many years and 
was finalh' used as a ljlack>niitli shop. The lodge started mU with six work- 
ing members, and struggled with but few additions for a few years, when it 
took a start and grew rapidK- until the Avar between the states broke out, 
when many of the members enlisted in the Union cause. -\t the close of that 
deadly struggle the lodge again took on new life and prospered. ,\fter 1876 
the lodge built a three-story building on the north side of the public square, 
at a cost of five thousand dollars, and on the third floor of which structure 
was built their lodge room, a spacious, well- furnished hall. 

Rockville Encamijment No. 95, Patriarchs Militant, was instituted No- 
vember 9, 1849. Its charter bears the names of W. C. Lumpton, grand pat- 
riarch, and E. H. Barry, grand scribe. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the 
chartering of this lodge was commemorated by a grand banquet. November 
9, 1874. Ox'cr nine hundred were furnished a suni])luous dinner, gotten up 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. II5 

by the ladies of the old National Hall. Hon. Schuyler Colfax delivered the 
address in an able and truly eloquent manner. 

Reserve Lodge No. 102, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was in- 
stituted November 10, 1851, at Montezuma, the charter members being 
Samuel A. Fisher, John W. Wade, James Jacobs, George H. Ribble, Samuel 
D. Hill and George W. Thompson. 

Annapolis Lodge No. 431 was chartered, or rather organized, January 
7, 1874, with the following as charter members and first officers: J. D. Con- 
nely, noble grand; R. W. H. McKey, vice-grand; Wyatt Morgan, treasurer; 
John J. Garrigus, secretary; Miles Ratcliffe, warden; William and Samuel 
Brooks. 

Parke Lodge No. 498 was instituted August 26, 1874, by John T. San- 
ders, of Indianapolis. The charter bears the date of November 18, 1875. The 
first officers and members were: John J. Garrigus, noble grand; R. H. W. 
McKey, vice-grand; W. R. Cooper, secretary; Wyatt Morgan, treasurer: John 
P. Lungren, ^liles Ratcliffe, Samuel Brooks and William Brooks. It was 
written of this lodge in 1880 : "It is one of the brightest lodges in the county, 
the spirit of friendship obtaining universally among the membership." 

Union Lodge No. 198, Daughters of Rebekah, also met within the lodge 
room of the last named lodge and in 1879 was the only lodge of its kind in 
Parke county. It was fonned in August, 1879, by the following members: 
Dr. McKey. W. R. Cooper, Jennie Cooper, W. P. Flo}d, Elizabeth Floyd. 
Thomas Clark, Anjennetta Clark. MWes Ratcliffe, E. J. Ratcliffe, S. Harlan, 
Mary Ilarlriu, J. C. Herslibrunner, L. W. Ranton anrl Angelina Banton. 

PRESENT ODD FELLOW.S LODGES. 

The following is a list of the Odd Fellows lodges within Parke county 
in existence in 1912 : 

Reserve Lodge No. 102, Montezuma, has a membership of seventy-six. 
and owns a fine hall, erected in 1900 at a cost of six thousand dollars, which 
is all paid for. The present officers are: Charles Machletd. noble grand: 
Perry Jarrod. vice-grand; John G. l.nwry, secretary: Roy AikniaiL treasurer; 
John Machledt. Oliver ^\'hitson and William Whitson, trustees. 

Howard Lodge No. 71, Rockville, two hundred and seventy-six members. 

Bloomingdale Lodge No. 431 has fifty-five mmebers. 

Parke Lodge No. 498 has twenty memljcrs. 

Tangier Lodge No. 632 has seventeen meniliers. 

Rosedale Lodge No. 698 has one hundred and thirty -eight members. 



Il6 PARKE AND VERMILLION C0T;NTIES, INDIANA. 

Prosperity Lodge has one hundred and eleven members. 

Mecca Lodge No. 755 has one hundred and three members. 

Bridgeton Lodge No. 815 has forty-two members. 

This makes a grand total in the county of nine hundred and seventeen. 

REBEKAH DEGREE LODGES. 

At .Marshall, Union Lodge has sex'en members. 
At Bloomingdale, P'earl Lodge No. 226 has thirty-five members. 
At Rockville, Shining Light Lodge has one hundred and eighty- four. 
At Rosedale, Mary Lodge No. 431 has one hundred and two. 
At Montezuma, Wabash Lodge No. 498 has seventy-two. 
At Bridgeton, May\iew Lodge No. 689 has seventy -five. 
This makes a grand total in the county of four hundred and seventy-five. 
The only encampments of the fraternity in Parke county are those at 
Rockville and Rosedale, both flourishing in the autumn of 1912. 

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

This, one of the more modern civic societies, has a good following in 
Parke county. The first lodge of this order, Silliman Lodge No. 66, was in- 
stituted September 8, 1875, by District Deputy Grand Chancellor Albert 
Dickey, of Crawfordsville, assisted by the members of DeBayard Lodge No. 
39, of the same place. The charter was granted January 2'i,, 1876, by C. T. 
Tuly, grand chancellor of the grand lodge of Indiana, and the charter mem- 
bers were as follows : William R. Fry, M. J. Cochran, William P. Strain, Z. 
Byers, W. N. McCampbell, O. J. Innis, T. H. Holmes, J. Wise, J. S. Hun- 
nell, William H. Gillum, George B. Chapman, J, B, Connelly, J. E. \\'oodard, 
J. D. Carlisle, William Rembolz, R. Christian, Charles H. Bigwood. David 
A. Roach, E. A. Matson, S. C. Puett, William D. Sill, F. M. Hall, S. D. 
Puett, A. J. East and John B. Dowd. In 1880 this lodge had a membership 
of one hundred and seven, and was reported in an excellent condition, finan- 
cially and fraternally. ]\Ieetings were held every Wednesday night in Castle 
Hall, in the third floor of Shackleford's block, on the north side of the square 
at Rockville. Now the hall is in the \^' hippie block ; number of members, 
one hundred and seventy. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. II7 

PRESENT LODGES OF THE ORDER. 

In lyij the following i)oints sustained Knights of Pythias lodges: Rock- 
ville, Silliman Lodge No. 06, with one hundred and seventy members ; Rose- 
dale Lodge No. 224, with tnie hunilrt-d and eighteen members; Mecca Lodge 
No. 488, with one hundred and fnur members: Montezuma Lodge No. 264, 
with eighty-seven members: Tangier. I'hilemon Lodge No. 399, with forty- 
seven members; Bloomingdale. Penn Lodge No. 87, with thirty-si.x members; 
Marshall Lodge No. 133. with twenty-eight members: Bellemore Lodge No. 
640. with si.\tv-one member.^ ; .\cme Lodge No. 98, at Sih'erwood, with 
membership of fifty-three: Bridgeton Lodge No. 435, with a membership of 
one hundred and forty-eight: Casey\-ille Lodge No. 465, at Diamond, with a 
membership of ninety-two. 

The Rockville lodge is the mother of all the others in Parke county. Its 
officers, according to the last obtainable report, that of the grand lodge of 
1912, gives the ofificers as follows: C. E. Burnett, chancellor commander; 
Frank Shaw, vice-commander; Fred Burnett, prelate: Early M. Dowd, keeper 
of records and seal; John H. Spencer, master of finance: A. T. Brockway, 
master of exchequer; Sherman Call, inner guard; S. L Skelton, outer guard. 

At Montezuma, Lodge No. 264 was organized June 2, 1891, and now 
has a membership of eighty. The present elective members are: J. L. White, 
chancellor commander: A. Scribbling, vice-commander: \\"illiam Skeeter, 
prelate ; William Burgess, master of wampum ; A. L. Jerome, keeper of records 
and seal; John G. Lowry, master of exchequer; John C. Hamilton, master of 
finance: John Morgan, master of arms: William Norris, outer guard: A. M. 
Kay. inner guard ; Frank Wilson, N. S. Wheeler, John L. White, trustees. 
The order owns a hall valued at two thousand five hundred dollars. .\ few 
of this lodge belong to the Uniform Rank degree. 

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. 

The Grand Army of the Republic, the great Civil war and Union soldier 
fraternity, was early in the field in Parke county, and at one time there were 
numerous posts organized in the county, but with the death of so many of 
the loyal "boys in blue," of late years, many posts ha\e been compelled to 
surrender their charter. There are still a few posts in this countw including 
the first organized, that at Rockville, and a few more. Th^ total member- 
ship is now quite small. The sight of the once numerous copper buttons and 



Il8 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

post badges of the country is year b}' year growing sadly less, and ere long 
one will look upon these badges of honor as our grandfathers used to the 
relics of the old Revolutionary soldiers. 

The names and numbers of the posts in this county in the fall of 19 12 
were as follows, with the names of the commanders: Steele Post No. 9, 
Rockville, with fifty membership; D. H. Strange, commander. Floyd Post 
No. 10, at Annapolis; J. R. Tucker, commander. Scott Post No. 305, at 
Portland Mills ; Inin Thomas, commander. Hobson Post No. 29, at Mar- 
shall ; Stephen Beeson, commander. Altoona Post No. 407, at Waterman ; 
George W. Knaver, commander. Kelly Post No. 572, Bridgeton; J. H. Kerr, 
commander. 



CHAPTER IX. 



THE NEWSPAPERS OF PARKE COUNTY. 



The art and profession of newspaper-making first got a foothold in 
Parke county in 1S29, as appears from the earliest files of which the author 
iias any access or knowledge. This was in the establishment of the Wabash 
Herald, started in 1829. It was in the early months of 1828, when this county 
had a population of less than two hundred souls, that its populace began to 
agitate the question of securing a local paper, having become tired of de- 
pending upon those printed at Terre Haute. So by the circulation of a sub- 
scription paper the Herald was founded, and its editor was a Mr. Clarke, 
from Ohio. It was a mild-tempered Jackson political organ, but paid more 
attention to local news than to shaping political opinion. John Marts pur- 
chased the office soon after, and he entered into a "stan-ation career." That 
was a day of red-hot campaigns and no neutral paper had any showing in 
the minds of the determined and positive first settlers in these parts. Marts 
sold to William T. Noel, who at once changed the name to that of the Rock- 
ville Intelligencer and converted it into a radical \\'hig organ. Noel set out 
to build up the Whig party in Parke county and really flid accomplish nnich 
in this direction. Later he sold to Comingore, who was followed by Mr. 
Snyder, and in turn he was succeeded by Col. Henry Slavens. who changed 
its name to the Olizr Branch, which, however, was anything but a peaceful 
organ, but on the contrary, was always in "deep mud and hot water." This 
caused the few issues of a paper known as the Whig Rifle, but the original 
paper was counted the real party organ of the Whigs for many years. It 
finally became so personal that the Democratic leaders started a paper to 
further their end in the county. It only ran for a short time and the oldest 
present inhabitant knows not its name or date of its publication, simply the 
tradition handed down that such a paper once existed here, for no copies can 
be found to tell the birth and death of the paper. 

It was not far from 184-' when Matthew Simpson bought the Whig 
paper, the OVnr Branch, and conducted the same many years, after a very 
creditable fashion for those early days, when all matter had to be set up 
by hand and when pure rag paper obtained, instead of the rotten, almost 



I20 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

worthless, present-day print paper. The paper was run off on a hand-press 
and its circulation was none the largest, but the price was from two to three 
dollars per annum, cash in advance (sometimes), and when not so paid the 
rate was much higher, and the rule generally lived up to. Then there were 
no "patent insides," or cheap [jlates, with love story attachments, to the pub- 
lication, sent by express at so much per inch or pound. Editorials were then 
all original, no borrowed type or plates. Even the "patent medicine" notices 
all had to be set up at home, yet they told of as many cure-alls as those of 
today, and cured as many ( ?) then as now. One specialty was the full-text of 
long-winded speeches made in Congress, covering page upon page of fine 
type, and often continued to other issues of the paper. Also the long editor- 
ials explaining the position taken Ijy the Congressmen, etc. The foreign news 
had t(j come by sailing vessel and steamer for years, until, in the fifties, when 
the submarine cable brought European news, which, after its long route from 
New York and Philadelphia, finally found its way here by stage or canal boat, 
when it was headed "Latest News from Europe." Then, as even now, there 
were Ijaskets full of poetr} set up annually, that was simply abominable. 
Finally, the name of the paper was changed to that of the Parke County 
li'liiy. and so continued until 1854, when the son, Rufus Simpson, took con- 
trol and named it the True Republican, which with the flight of years be- 
came the Rock'iille Republican. In 1880 this was published by Keeny & 
Brown, which in reality is the legal offspring and descendant of the original 
\Miig organ of this county. 

In the meantime, the Democrats had several times tried to sustain a 
newspaper, for political reasons. Init had failed until in 1856, when E. Cox 
established the Democrat, which was short lived. Again in 1864, a traveling 
printer started another Democrat, but neither stood fire long enough to be 
counted in the chapter of journalism here. After many years, the Monte- 
zuma Era became the leading Democratic organ of Parke county, and flour- 
ished quite well; it was still conducted in 1881 and was noted for being a 
good family newspaper with Democratic politics. 

Shortly after the close of the Civil war, Dr. John S. Dare, who gained 
some celebrity as a prose and verse writer, and who was from North Caro- 
lina, established the Parke County News, an independent paper, leaning to- 
ward the Greenback doctrine. It did not pay and was sold to George W. 
CoUings, who called his paper the Patriot, a Democratic organ. He sold to 
T. B. Cheadle, who founded the Rockx'illc Tribune, an independent Republi- 
can paper, which, in March, 1879, passed into the hands of J. H. Beadle, who 



PARKE AND \ERMILL10N COUNTIES. INDIANA. 121 

contlucted the same until he sold an interest to Isaac Strouse, who in a year 
or so purchased the remainder of the property, and has continued its publica- 
tion for more than thirty years, making it a stanch Democratic organ. 

The Parke County Signal files show that it was established August 14, 
1880, at Rockville, and run for a number of years, when it was merged with 
other publications and quit as a separate paper. It was radically Demo- 
cratic, and had scathing editorials, in which the Republican party was fre- 
quently "roasted" and which caused many heated newspaper discussions and 
animated ret(.)rts, l)et\\een the editors of the various [)arty organs. 

There have been many other papers published in the county at an early 
daw l)ut none of great ]irominence, down to a quarter of a century ago. 

PRESENT NEWSPAPER.S. 

In 1912 the newspapers of the county are as follows: 

The Tribune, at Rockx'ille. published Ijv Isaac Strouse, who has heen con- 
nected with the pa]ier for thirty-ixld vears, and is now one of the leading 
Democratic organs in this section of Indiana. 

The Republican, at Rockville. is published and owned by A. A. Mar- 
grave, who has conducted a clean, newsy, and straight Republican organ 
here since April 4, 1888, when he purchased it from the company represented 
by Brown Brothers. This paper is the continuation of the early-day Parke 
County IVhig, and later the True Republican. Earlier still its predecessor 
was the Oliz'c Branch, published first in about 1842, by Matthew Simpson, 
but it had heen launched bv the \\'hig element with William T. Noel as 
editor, who called the paper the Rockville Intelligencer. In taking the Re- 
publican, in April. 1888. Mr. Hargrave made this brief, modest announce- 
ment, and he has. during all these years, lived up to what he there stated : 

"In assuming the control of the Republican two objects are in view, one 
to make a living out of the business part of the establishment, the other to give 
the people, and especially the Republicans of Parke county, a first-class Re- 
publican newspaper. For these two objects I w ill work with might and main. 
The hearty co-operation of all is solicited. Without this confidence and hel]) 
of mv readers and patrons this paper must fail. But after all. the paper 
must show for itself. It is hoped no old friend of the paper will be lost and 
that many new ones will be gained. 

"Respectfully. 

"Arthur A. H.\rgr.\ve." 



122 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

The Montezuma Enterprise, now owned and conducted by C. S. Over- 
man, who has recently located there, is an independent newspaper, calculated 
to upbuiid the vicinity in which it circulates, on both sides of the Wabash, in 
both Vermillion and Parke counties, especially the latter. It succeeds the old 
Record, published by A. B. Powell. The present rate of subscription is one 
dollar and twent}-fi\'e cents and the Enterprise is filled with choice, crisp 
locals, and also carries a paying list of home advertisements, showing the 
patrons appreciate the manner in which the paper is being conducted by Mr. 
Overman. 

The Blooniingdale U'orld was established in 1880 by W. H. Bright, and 
is now a six-column quarto, subscription rate one dollar and twenty-five cents 
per year. This newspaper has always given more in return for what has been 
paid in subscription and other patronage to the ofBce than most papers have 
done, being always clean, newsy and progressive. 

The town of Rosedale has had numerous newspapers, some of long and 
some of shorter duration. In searching out the list the writer finds the Clipper 
from 1896 to 1898; the Southern Parke Press, that printed its last issue Sep- 
tember 28, 1888, C. E. Hardick, editor and publisher; Wentworth & Went- 
worth published the Rosedale Tribune from 1902 on for almost four years. 
The present Tribune is edited and owned by H. Clay Owen ; its size is an 
eight-page six-column paper, and is progressive in politics. 

The Nezvs is a publication at Marshall. 



CHAPTER X. 



IMPORTANT CRIMINAL CASES. 



W'hilf the recital (jf crimes Imiii^ ago ci>niniitted may not appeal to every 
reader as befitting a work ot the historic kind presented in this volume, yet 
there were certain crimes — especially before the Civil war — that tend to throw 
light on the class of people in these parts and really are narratives of no little 
interest to possibly a respectable majority of the readers, hence will here be 
inserted. 

At least three of these crunes were committed in Liberty township. At 
an early day William Slocum. while hunting in the woods, came upon a wild 
cat dragging something from a brush heap. He killed the cat and found in its 
claws a dead infant, apparently of recent birth. A girl named Smith, living 
near by, was suspected ; but when an inquiry was begun she arose from the 
l)ed, dressed in man's clothes, walked to the Wabash, hailed a passing steamer 
and departed, and that was the last Liberty township ever beard of "the un- 
wedded mother. 

Luke Mead, of Libert}' township, was an elderly man, with a voung 
wife of whom he was passionately jealous. He was also talkati\e and quar- 
relsome when in liquor. His jealousy was directed chiefly toward Lewis 
Thomas, and one day the two had a \'iolent quarrel in the town of Lodi, now 
Waterman. Soon after they started home by different routes, and Mead was 
never again seen alive, a few days afterward being found in the beech woods 
dead. His body was greatly swollen ; by his side lay a broken whisky bottle, 
and under his thigh a dead rattle snake! On his person were scratches which 
the witnesses thought could not have been made by the snake, and on his 
throat dark marks which might ha\e been made liv the fingers of a vcrv 
strong man. Lewis Thomas attended the in(|uest with other neighbors, and was 
there arrested and taken before a justice. While the latter hesitated whether 
the proof was sufficient to commit. Gen. T. A. Howard passed down the road, 
returning from court at Covington, and Thomas at once employed him as 
counsel. He pressed the trial and evidence was judged insufficient to hold. 
No further action was taken, but the community held the accused guilty and 
withdrew all fellowship from him. His residence then became intolerable. 



124 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and he went to California in 1849, where he died in 1850, in apparent peace 
and without any reference to the tragedy. If guilty, his case did not turn out 
in accordance with the popular notion in such cases. 

Another remarkable disproof of the popular idea "that murder will out" 
is found in the case of Washington Hoagland. In 1855 he was residing with 
his brother Rowan in an old farm house, set far back from the road, a gloomy 
looking place, seemingly fitted by nature as the locality of mysterious crime. 
Two lewd girls had made the house their home for a few days, with a consent 
of Ro\\an Hoagland, and Washington had raised a disturbance about it. One 
niglit he was called into the yard, a scuffle occurred and next morning he was 
found there dead, in his hand a pistol, and on his throat the marks of strangu- 
lation. When he was lifted from the ground the pistol fell from his hand, 
which the people thought a proof that he did not die holding it. He was a 
strangely (|uiet man. ahiKjst simple-minded, and without an enemv. Strict 
examination of the brother and the girls developed no proof, though the latter 
were generall\' Ijelieved to ha\'e guilty knowledge of the murder. No one 
was arrested, proof being lacking, and the suspected soon after took final 
leave of the county. The experience of this township tends to prove that 
murder escapes detection as often, in proportion, as any other crime. 

Far more sensational and sorrow ful was the case of Noah Beauchamp, 
the only man hanged in Parke county. Beauchamp was a man somewhat past 
middle life, a Ijlacksmith of heavy person, ruddy complexion and strong 
passions. His temperament was impulsive, and he was, one might say, 
imreasonably jealous of the honor of his family. He was a consistent mem- 
ber of the Baptist church, thoroughly honest in his dealings and enjoyed the 
general respect of his neighbors. His neighbor, George Mickelberry, was a 
man who also enjoyed the respect of all and no difficulty ever occurred be- 
tween the men, until the women (piarreled. Delia Decker, a \()ung" woman liv- 
ing at Mickelberry's, had employed one of Beauchamp's daughters to do 
some work, and charged that Mrs, Beauchamp had stolen, or rather failed to 
return, a quantity of wool entrusted to her for the work. Of course this 
soon grew to a neighborhootl scandal and. coming to Beauchamp"s ears, in- 
flamed him to a high degree of anger. He declared he would go immediately 
and have "the Mickelben-y family take it back." On his way he passed where 
they had been cutting up meat and picked up. a butcher-knife which lay on a 
stump. He said he did this thinking there might Ije two or three men at Mickel- 
berry's and that he would be overpowered if attacked. He also told a friend 
— ^but does not state the fact in his confession — that he knelt and prayed 
before reaching Mickelben-y's for guidance; nevertheless, he did go there 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. I25 

angry and with his knife concealed. Ahnost choking with angei', he ad- 
dressed some violent language to Delia Decker, when Mrs. .Mickelberry arose 
and left the room. Mickelberry expostulated with him mildly, hut Miss 
Decker answered by reiterating the charge that his daughter hail stolen the 
wool. White with passion he said : "If you was a man I'd cut you into shoe- 
strings." Thereupon Mickelberry laid his hand on Beauchamp and said: 
"You shall not talk that way in my house." .\nd on the instant Beauchamp 
drew the knife and with one fearful blow buried it to the hilt in the other's 
breast. Mrs. Mickellierry testified that she heard the bone snap from the 
adjoining room. Mickelberry fell dead without a word or cry. 

For one instant the homicide stood as if paralyzed. Then he dropped the 
fatal knife and fled. Reaching the river, he stole a canoe and crossed, then 
made his way by the most direct route to Texas, then the uncommon refuge 
for the unfortunate and the criminal. There he worked at his trade and 
went by his true name, possibly thinking himself perfectly safe. But a large 
reward was ofYered, his description being puWished far and wide, and two 
adventurers in Texas arrested the fugitive. It was not easy, at that day, to 
get a man of that sort out of Texas, as the state had need of every strong 
arm, against its many enemies, and the more desperate he was the more she 
needed him. On his way back Eeauchami) made Line dash for liberty, knricked 
down one of the men and nearly overcame the other, but was overpowered. 
On the steamer he hanged himself with the sheet from his bed, and was 
almost dead when discovered and cut down. The crime was committed in 
the northern part of Vigo county, but Beauchamp employed Gen. T. A. 
Howard as counsel, who took a change of venue to Parke, where the pro- 
ceedings, including the appeal to the supreme court, lasted o\er a year. 
Howard threw all his energies into this case, and felt for his client more than 
a common interest; but it was in vain. He was sentenced to death and the 
supreme court confirmed the sentence. No trial held in Wabash valley e\er 
excited more interest, and the conduct of Mrs. Mickelberry, in particular, on 
the witness stand excited the deep respect of all, and even affected some to 
tears. When Ned McGaughey, who prosecuted, asked : "Can you jioint out 
the murderer of your husband?" the tears gathered in her eyes, as she softly 
replied : "It was the old gentleman who sits there." Xo part of the examina- 
tion drew from her a single angry remark about Beauchamp, to whom she 
invariably alluded, as "the old gentleman." General Howard never ceased 
his efforts to save Beauchamp's life, till he had laid a petition for commutation 
before the governor, and l>een sadly refused. 

On a dark, gloomy Sunday, George Howard. Joseph Ralston, Henry 



126 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Slavens and Ludwell Robinson together w ent to the jail. Then Howard, with 
tears in his eyes, said to Beaiichamp: "I have done all I could, but there is 
no hope ; nothing remains for you 1)ut to prepare for death." Beauchamp 
replied that he was ready to die, thanked Howard warmly and requested to 
have Rev. Newport preach his funeral before the execution; then ate a light 
breakfast and made his last wishes on various matters, known to Henry 
Slavens (then editor and lawyer), who also wrote out his so-called confession. 
Friday, February 8, 1843, ^^'^^ ^ bitter cold day, but a large crowd assembled. 
Beauchamp sat in the old court house, dressed for death, and listened to his 
own funeral sermon. Then the sad procession repaired to a hollow half a 
mile east of town, where the gallows had been erected. He said no more to 
the crowd than a mere good bye. Sheriff Youmans was so agitated that his 
first blow missed the rope. The next severed it, and just as the condemned 
murmured, ""Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," the drop fell and, without unus- 
ual struggle, he passed to eternity. 

It is foreign to this work, but only a few years before his cousin Beau- 
champ, of Kentucky, had died the same death, and for a crime likewise com- 
mitted in defense of family honor. His wife had been seduced before mar- 
riage by one Sharpe, who later became attorney-general. The wrong was 
talked over by the young people, and finally Beauchamp became so frenzied 
that he called Sharpe out one night and killed him. The wife of the mur- 
derer clung to him to the last with most affecting devotion. As the fatal day 
drew near, both seemed exalted above the ordinary feelings of mankind. They 
prayed aloud, they sang till the jail walls echoed their fervor, and e.xulted 
that he was to die for no mercenary crime, but in defense of chastity and 
family honor. She rode with him to the scaffold, sustained his courage in 
the last trying moments and had inscribed on his tomb her endorsement of 
what she considered his chivalrous act. Thus died the two Beaucham])s, men 
of high spirit and noble, but untrained, instincts. Men of strict honesty in 
life, but victims of illy-regulated passions. Their"s were no vtilgar crimes, 
and it is impossible for the generous mind not to feel a sympathy with such 
men, even while inexorable law condemns. 

Another peculiar case will be narrated in this connection: In Xuma 
there had lived from a very early day one Silas Bowers, who was a business 
man, but always in some local trouble and had many suits at law. He had 
come to I)e an experienced rogue. In 1854 this man whose name was Bow- 
ers lost a suit at law by the testimony of one Sidwell, and in a few nights 
afterward Sidwell's barn burned, with his crop and tools within it. The 
honest citizens rose en. masse, seized Bowers and a few of his gang, whipped 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. \2,'J 

him and a hired witness, named Burke, till they confessed to the arson, then 
notified them to lea\e on pain of death. Burke immediately complied, after 
detailing that Bowers employed him to burn the barn, and he in turn em- 
ployed one Reeder, who reall_\- applied the torcli. Recder was chased into a 
swamp in Vigo county and there mysteriously disappeared, never to be seen 
in this section of the country. Bowers went to Terre Haute, and actually 
had the audacity to return, backed by a new gang. The society here known 
as the Regulators now saw that it was a life and death contest, as Bowers 
had not only employed attorneys and brought suits, but had a gang of supv- 
posed assassins to aid him. The citizens again captured him by stratagem, and 
whipped him so unmercifully that his back was a mass of raw and bleeding 
flesh. Then, it is reported, they tied him to a tree, placed a gun in Sidwell's 
hands and directed him to shoot Bowers, which Sidwell offered to do if 
enough of them would join to make it uncertain who fired the fatal shot. 

The country was now terribly excited. The first move of the Regula- 
tors had been generally approved ; indeed, they numbered some of the best 
men in the county. But some shrank from extreme measures ; two parties 
formed, and Bowers had a few symjiathizers. He left, l)ut again returned, 
this time only asking permission to settle up his business and then leave the 
country. This the Regulators readily granted. But the inob spirit was now 
aroused, and good citizens who had started with it could no longer control it. 
Other men were now "regulated" for mere offenses against morality, and one, 
Ben Wheat, was fearfully lashed for no offenses at all that anyone can recall 
now. Meanwhile Silas Bowers had finished his settlement, placed his remain- 
ing property in the hands of a trustee and, with his wife, had started for 
Illinois in a carriage. He had most unwisely threatened vengeance just be- 
fcTte leaving, and it was whispered about that his death was detemiined. A 
few miles west of the Wabash he was fired upon with unerring aim by two 
men concealed ahead of him by the roadside, and fell from his carriage mor- 
tally wounded, his life blood spattering the dress of his wife by his side. The 
manner of his assassination was never successfully searched duI. and it is well 
perhaps not to inquire too closely or curiously, even at this late date, as to just 
who had a hand in this afifair — let the cloak of charity fall and there forever 
remain. 

In iS^C) occurred another nun-der. which may here be of .some interest. 
In the school of Couse and Condit were two lads of fifteen and eighteen sum- 
mers, Oscar P. Lill and Charles H. Thompson. They got into difliculty, one 
with the other, over some small afifair in a literary society, which resulted in 
Thompson stabbing and killing his classmate. Thompson fled to Mississippi, 



128 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

but was pursued and brought back the next summer. The trial was a long 
delayed one, and celebrated counsel was procured on both sides, including 
Hon. Dan Voorhees as prosecutor and Hon. R. W. Thompson, later secretary 
of the navy, for the defense. The murderer was finally sentenced for one year 
and the governor pardoned him out in a few months, when he went to Iowa, 
seiTed honorably in the Union army, settled in New Orleans, where he was 
city appraiser under the reconstruction government, and after the revolution 
there in 1877 returned to Iowa. It was an unfortunate affair and the man 
Thompson, who did the criminal deed in his youthful passion, always carried 
with him the deep, sad regrets of having taken the life of a fellowman. 

Including the killing of Nillis Hart, at Montezuma, in the autumn of 
1856, Parke county had eight homicides up to 1881, of which three were 
directly due to whisky and two to lust. 

The last murder in this county was the killing of Mrs. Lottie Vollmer 
by J. C. Henning, at Rockville, in the nineties. The murderer was tried and 
hung at Crawfordsville, Montgomery county. 

THE WORK OF INSANITY. 

In the month of April, 1896, the entire county was saddened by the 
work of an insane man named Alfred Egbert, of Rockville, who killed a Mrs. 
Herman Haschke. an innocent woman in tlie part of town in which the insane 
man lived ; and in meeting the sheriff. Col. W. D. Mull, his trusty deputy, 
William Sweem, Agnes, a daughter of the murdered woman, aged nine 
years, and her brother, Herman, aged seven years. The work was all done 
with a shot gun, with which he killed himself while secreted in one of the 
stock stalls at the county fair grounds, thus ending one of the most terrible 
tragedies ever darkening the pages of Parke county history. The funeral of 
Colonel Mull was attended by persons from all over the county; the court 
house was heavily draped in mourning and sorrow was felt, keen and deep, 
everywhere. The old soldiers and Grand Army had charge of his burial. 
Rev. F. K. Fuson, of the Presbyterian church, preached his funeral sermon. 
This truly good man and county official. Colonel Mull, was born in Ohio, 
came here in 1840, enlisted in Company A, Fourteenth Indiana Regiment, 
served later as colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment. He 
studied medicine at Jefferson Medical College and practiced medicine at 
Terre Haute till 1877. 

The deputy sheriff, also killed, was raised in Parke county, as a car- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 129 

penter, and was a good man and inoffensive citizen, carrying out the duties 
of his office when shot down by this unfortunate mad man. 

The murderer, if such he might be termed, was born in Rockville in 1874, 
was by trade a carpenter and worked on the house of Dr. Mull, among his 
last jobs. Thus six human lives went out in as many hours, on Rockville soil. 



(9) 



CHAPTER XI. 

POLITICAL HISTORV AND ELECTION RETURNS. 

Perhaps no more accurate account of the early pohtical complexion of 
Parke county >can here be given than that expressed in a fomier history of 
the county by that fair-minded citizen, J. H. Beadle, from whose writings 
we here draw liberally. Among other points he makes clear of the following 
facts, ]jut into other language, in part. 

Concerning the clerk's office in Parke county, it may be said that for 
numerous reasons there has been connected with it much of political and 
other interesting history. This office was held for thirty years, almost a 
generation, by two men, while tliat of the sheriff was frequently held more 
than five years at once by the same individual. Very few, if indeed any, 
counties in the commonwealth have been so fortunate in their county offi- 
cials. For fifty-nine years, says Mr. Beadle, down to the date of his writing, 
there was an unbroken line of countv treasurers without a single defalcation. 

Again, take the map of the Hoosier state, as it was in 1840, and the 
Whig strongholds then are generally strongly Republican now. And what 
is true of Indiana is also true of the country at large. The Friends (Quak- 
ers) were nearly all W'higs, and nearly every member of that honorable so- 
ciet\' became radical Republicans. Reserve township, for example, was 
Democratic on the issues of tarii?, bank and distribution: it remained Demo- 
cratic when those issues were as dead as Julius Caesar, and was still Demo- 
cratic in Garfield's time as President, but on an entirely new set of political 
issues, which have no connection with the issues of 1840. Yet men are 
sometimes blamed for changing their party, though political parties are ever 
ch^anging themselves. "Why men who held together on finance and revenue 
issues should be expected to hold together on negro suffrage and reconstruc- 
tion, is one of those things no logician can solve." 

Along about 1832-3 there seems to have l.)een a general epidemic among 
the county officials, as to being elected and after a time handing in their 
resignations. From records it appears that many men who in 1828 had been 
Jackson men, in 1832 were anti-Jackson men. John G. Davis, who was 
elected on his popularity for sheriff in 183 1, resigned in 1833. At the same 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. I3I 

time Coroner Johnston resigned, and Nugent was appointed in his stead ; but 
he, too, resigned in ^larch, 1835, and Hugii J. Bradley was commissioned in 
his place. It was almost impossible to tind a man in those days who would 
hold the office of coroner or probate judge. Meanwhile the county offices and 
nearly all of the records of the county were consumed by fire; the Legislature 
was appealed to and corrected the difficulty, as far as possible, by an act to 
validate titles and records, but an immense amount of trouble devolved on the 
officials, and of course the people got impatient and decided to "have a 
change," as they have in politics many times since then — sometimes for the 
better and again for a far worse administration. 

In 1823 Nathaniel Huntington and Thomas H. Blake ran for the Legis- 
lature, to represent Parke county with Vigo, and the vote stood: i'arke — 
Huntington, 79; Blake, 243. Vigo — Huntington, 138; Blake, 310. In 1824, 
Jacob Call, Thomas H. Blake and Ratliffe Boone ran for Congress: and in 
i8_'() the last two and I^aw rence S. Shuler, of Terre Haute. But Boone was 
by this time too strong for anybody to successfully cope w ith him. His district 
extended from the Ohio to Lake Michigan, and. he faithfully canvassed it 
every campaign. Lawrence S. Shuler was the most eminent surgeon in this 
part of Indiana, and frequentl)- went a hundred miles to perform some deli- 
cate operation. He died not long after he was a candidate, universally la- 
mented. Boone's next competitor was John Law, who brought into the can- 
vass of his district great energy. He and Governor James B. Ray made a 
thorough canvass of the district in 1828, holding forth at every settlement, 
and people came as far as thirty miles in canoes and on horseback to hear 
them speak. One night they were swamped in the W'ea plains, but found a 
house at ten next morning, got breakfast and fresh horses, and galloiJed on 
to their next appointment. Boone continued to represent thi,s district as long 
as he cared to (Parke, however, was soon cut off in a more northern district), 
then went to Missouri, and, after all. died in comparative obscurity. There 
is nuich talk of the purity of politics at thai early date, bm upon a slight ex- 
amination into the records, it will be seen that candidates abused one another 
then even more violentlv than in these latter times, and more rudely aufl 
coarsely, too. 

Judicial circuits were on the same broad scale, and for years lawyers and 
judges (same as Lincoln an<l Douglas lra\eled together) went from Terre 
Haute to Laporte on horseback, carrying their documents in leather saddle- 
bags. Onlv the toughest physic|ues could stand such exposure: the weaklings 
died young men, or went back lo older communities, and so natural selection 
secured the survival of the fittest. Hence it was, that out of the pioneer law- 



132 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

yers came a grand galaxy of great men: John Law, from Vincennes; Blake 
Huntington and Farrington, from Terre Haute; Caleb B. Smith, from farther 
east ; Joseph A. Wright, Tilghman A. Howartl and ^^'illiam P. Bryant, from 
Rockville ; Hannegan, Patterson and Wallace, from Covington ; Lane, Curry 
and Wilson, from Crawfordsville. Of the early lawyers who frequently 
practiced at Rockville, five afterward graced the bench, seven became mem- 
bers of Congress, and at least two became United States senators. Joseph A. 
Wright became governor and minister to Berlin; Bryant became chief justice 
of Oregon, and Howard, charge d'affaires to the new republic of Texas. 
Later came E. W. IMcGaughey, who was in Congress several terms, and 
Thomas Nelson twice represented this country abroad, in cases of extreme 
delicacy and with great success. Indeed the bar of Rockville continued to 
shine with brilliant and unusual luster down to if not later than 1852, after 
which many of the talented men removed to larger fields of operation in the 
West and Southwest. The Civil war came on and a new class of thinkers 
and workers obtained hold and have managed things at the bar in a dififerent 
and more modern manner, but in no case excelling those of earlier years. 

As a matter of fact, each recurring campaign brought forth some new 
and generally local issue in politics in Parke county, and these issues tended to 
make factional fights within the parties and made a very unsettled state of 
afifairs. First came the question of a national road, which was partly sur- 
veyed in 1827. One set of ci\il engineers reported in favor of a route from 
Greencastle, with a bridge across the Wabash at Clinton ; another from Terre 
Haute, and a third from a point some distance below. Vigo county secured 
the Representative and Terre Haute got the road. Before its completion 
Terre Haute people going to Indianapolis went north to IMarkle's Mills, then 
followed the east bluff of the wet prairies and Raccoon to Bridgeton, crossed 
the Raccoon and went up to Dixon's Mills, where they crossed again and 
followed the highest land eastward. 

Then the Wabash and Erie canal became a question ; it excited violent 
discussions for a score or more years before it was finally completed, as it did 
occasionally years thereafter. 

One writer on this topic said: "In 1825 Joseph yi. Hayes, of Monte- 
zuma, announced himself a candidate for the Legislature, with a spirited ad- 
dress to the people, in which he claimed the power to do much for the canal 
if elected. The canal and other schemes in way of internal improvement con- 
tinued to agitate the people for the next twelve years : then came the sweep- 
ing panic of 1837. knocking all such matters into insignificance and turning 
the people's minds toward finance. The first period involved the questions 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. I33 

most natural to a new country, and national issues came only incidental]}- : 
the second era was the day of national issues, from 1837 to 1854, and the 
third w as memorable for the exciting subjects of slaxery. war and reconstruc- 
tion. It is also curious to note that the old dorumcnt from which Hayes' 
letter was copied, relative to the canal issue, also states that a Mr. Deweese 
had run a keel-boat to Roseville, and introduced the first rats into Parke 
county — they landed from that lioat!" 

In 1840 the \Miigs swejit everything. In March. 184 1, they expected 
an immediate and great im|)ro\ement, and Parke county property took a sud- 
den rise: John Tyler vetoed the bank l)ill, and property took a tumble. Then 
the western people finally surrendered the hoiie of a national pap'.'r money, 
and entered on that era of financial chaos and interminable state and local 
banks, which lasted over twenty years. In ]84_' the \\'higs were divided and 
made a rather poor showing in this valley: luit early in 1843 they were again 
harmonious, and set to work with a fury and partisan liitterness that seems 
wild to the present reader. The newspapers and speakers were all high-keyed 
and said many harsh, bitter and personal things one against the other, but to 
no avail to the Clay defenders — their idol was defeated. The Whig party, 
after its triumph of 1848, slowly passed away: slavery became the paramount 
issue, and that led to war. In that great civil strife Parke county bore a 
glorious part, the history of which appears in another chapter in this work. 
After the Civil war had ended, for many years the returned soldiers, backed 
bv their friends, dictated the policy and the offices of the county, until aliout 
1890-96, when a younger generation of politicians took the reins of county 
government into their hands and in a measure relegated the old guards to the 
rear, while some of the official> in the county have been Democratic and 
others Republican. The "stand-patter" and the "|)rogressive" is no new thing 
in Parke countv politics — they have thri\e(l liere for these three score years 
and more, and are still in evidence. 

ELECTION RETURNS. 

It is impossible to give full presidential election returns, but the follow- 
ing fragmentary account will give the reader a general idea of the political 
complexion of national matters in Parke county: 

1864 — Lincoln (R) 2,ii_' 1S72— (irant (K) (Majority-- 983 

McClellan (D) 1,236 1876— Hayes (R) 2,429 

186&— (No record) Tilden (D) 1,817 



134 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 



1880— Garfield ( R) (Major- 
ity) 797 

1884 — Cleveland ( D) 1,929 

Blaine (R) ^.562 

1888— Harrison (R) 2,768 

Cleveland (D) 2,160 

1892 — G rover Cleveland (D) -1,993 
Benjamin Harrison (R) 
2,363 

1896— William McKinley (R) .2,818 
William J. Bryan (D) -2,590 
Prohibition candidate -- 40 

People's Party 156 

Gold Standard 10 

National 46 



1900 — William McKinley (R) -3,064 
William J. Br}'an (D) -2,587 

Prohibition candidate 205 

People's Party 6 

Socialists 6 

Social Democrats 66 

Union Reform 13 

1904 — Theijdore Roosevelt (R) 

3,468 

Alton B. Parker (D) --2,176 

1908 — William Howard Taft 

(R) 2,939 

William J. Bryan (D) -2,647 

Prohibition candidate 307 

Socialists 197 



CHAPTER XTI. 



I'AkKK IDLXTY SCHOOLS. 



P.Y I'nor. John A. Lineiiahgkr. 

We, of our day and age, are so accustomed to the rights and privi- 
leges we enjoy that it does not occur to us that we are rea])ing the result of 
the earnest thought and endea\'ors of the men who ha\e preceded us. This 
is as true in the field of education as elsewhere. We somehow fail to remem- 
ber with proper appreciation the pioneers who laid the basis for our splendid 
system of public education. 

As we have noted the meager beginning and have seen the wonderful 
growth and development, the organization, the supervision, the course of 
study, the changed teaching force, we are interested to know what has been 
the impetus that has brought this progress to us. 

The famous Ordinance of 1787 declares "Religion, morality and knowl- 
edge being necessary to good go\-ernment and the happiness of mankind, 
schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." The spirit 
of this ordinance is found in both constitutions adopted by the state. It seems 
to us that the men who have guided our state caught the meaning, for the in- 
junction has been performed to the fullest in both letter and spirit. 

We point with pride to our elementary and secondary schools and spend 
almost a million dollars annualh- in support of our higher institutions of learn- 
ing. How vitally the schools have affected the life of the state we can realize 
only in part. 

As Indiana has not been tardv in the work of education, so the history 
of the schools of this countv shows that I'arke has alwaxs kept al)reast the 
educational thought of Indiana and the nation. 

It is much to be regretted that so \-ery little is kucjwn of the beginnings 
of our school system in the various townships of the county. It appears that 
our earliest schools were established about 1830, Sugar Creek township's 
first school house was located on Wolf creek in i82<;. with Xathaniel Mor- 
gan as teacher. Another school was established north of the Xarrows in 
1830. Three schools were organized in Howard township in 1830; one in 
section \(> in the n(^rthern part, one in the southern and nne in the eastern 



136 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

part of the township. The earhest school in Liberty township was near 
Sylvania, with Isaac Hobson as teacher. 

Reserve township's first school was in the Linebarger settlement in the 
house of Josiah Horgar, his son being the teacher. One year later, in 1825, 
the first school house was erected in this neighborhood. James Siler taught 
the first school in the southern part of the township in a vacant cabin near 
the residence of Solomon Allen, who boarded the teacher for tliirty-seven 
and one-half cents per week. 

Probably the first school in Union township was taught in the small log 
structure which stood for many years on the Burton farm just east of Bell- 
more. A more pretentious early building near Bellmore, which is thus de- 
scribed, may serve as typical of the best of the primitive school buildings. 
"The school house was four cornered. One corner was used for a fireplace 
and from this ascended a chimney. The floor was 'ready luade.' T,umber 
was generally too scarce, so it was thought that the ground would do. XAHien 
floors were put in they were made of puncheon. The window was an opening 
provided by leaving a log out of the side of the house and covering it with 
greased paper. The roof was of clapboards fastened down by a binder, as one 
would make safe a load of hay on a wagon. The seats were halves of logs 
with flat sides up and wooden pins for legs. There were no desks, .\long 
the side of the house and below the window, that there might be as much 
light as possible, was an eighteen-inch plank used as a writing desk. Big and 
little reached up and bent down that they might learn to write. If there were 
any other fixtures liesides the benches and writing desk they were in keeping 
with the style of house." 

Tn 1839 a school house was built in what is now Xo. i district in Florida 
township. It was built by subscription for both school and church purposes. 

G. K. Lank ford was the first school trustee elected in Raccoon town- 
ship. Prominent among the early teachers were William Goodin, HugJi \'in- 
zant. G. L. Bailey and Calvin Pruett. 

The first school house in Washington township was built in what was 
known as the "lost quarter." The first teacher was John McBride. Enoch 
Kersey taught the first school in the Roaring Creek settlement in 1833. It 
was a subscription school, Mr. Kersey receiving two dollars per scholar per 
month. 

The first school in Adams township was taught bv John McGinnis in the 
Andrew Ray log cabin on the northeast corner of the square, after Ray had 
moved into lu's new home. This was in the early twenties. Other early 
teachers in this township and town were William Noel, Jeremiah Depew, 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 1 37 

John Hayes, Taicinda Depew, Jolin Garrigus, Jesse Lowe and Judije Morris. 
In ii'^37 an effort was made to secure Asbury University (now Deranw) and 
liberal sul)scriptions were made, but Greencastle was successful. 

It is impossible to state just what qualifications were required of the 
early teachers. There was no uniformity, even in the county. The patrons 
were the judges of the qualifications of one who wished to teach their chil- 
dren. However, we do know tliat he was a severe disciplinarian, who Ije- 
liexed that the rod should not be spared, and many tales are told nf the 
"awful" flog.e^ings that were begun by the teacher on the opening day of 
school and continued as an essential feature throughout the term. The writer 
Ii;ii] the pleasure of hearing ''first hand" of the general condition and the 
character and scope of the work of our early schools. He was rpialified to 
speak because he attended school in the early forties and taught in the early 
fifties. In the earliest .schools, the "three R's" only were taught, "Readin", 
Ritin' and Rithmetic." to the Rule of Three. By 1840 some history and geog- 
raphy were added to the curriculum. The early teacher received a salary of 
about twenty dollars per month and "boarded around." 

It is impossible to say when the teacher ceased to teach subscription 
schools and became a teacher of public schools under a real system. How- 
ever, in i(S(Si we find Parke county with a school examiner, whose duty seems 
to have been to pass upon the scholarship of an ap])licant. Later he was gi\en 
the added duty of visiting the schools of the count\- and reporting to the state 
superintendent of public instruction. Each examiner determined in his own 
way as to the standing of the applicant. Barnabas C. Hobbs thus describes 
his first examination : "The only question asked me was, 'What is the product 
of twenty-fi\e cents by twent}-five cents?' .'Vs the (|uestion did nut nccur in 
Pike's arithmetic, T could not answer it. The examiner thought it was six 
and one-fourth cents, but he was not sure. We discussed its merits for an 
hour or more, when he decided that he was sure I was qualified to teach 
school, and a first-class certificate was given me." Mr. Hobl)s probably did 
more than any one man to give Parke county recognition in the educational 
world. For more than fifteen years he was principal of Friends Blooming- 
dale Academy. Then in 1866 he was elected president of Earlhani College 
and in i8r)8 he became state superintendent of public instruction. While hold- 
ing this office he was chosen chairman of the committee for considering a 
scheme for federal aid to education in all states where it might be needed. In 
1871 he returned to Bloomingdale and again assumed the principalship, which 
position he filled several years more. 

In 1873 the General .Assembly abolished the office of county examiner 



138 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and created tliat of count\' superintendent, or ratlier merely clianged tlic 
name and enlarged the powers of the old office. ATr. Siler was the first super- 
intendent of Parke county. 

The list of county examiners and count)- superintendents, date of elec- 
tion, and length of term follows : 

Wilson Hobbs — Jnne 4. 1861, one year. 

Edwin F. Hadley — September 4. 1862, two years. 

Chester G. Bartholomew — Jnne 14. 1864, one year. 

John M. McLaughlin — June 9, 1865, two years. 

Joseph Foxworthy — June 11, 1867. one year. 

.\red F. White — June 5, 1868, five years. 

Elwood C. Siler — June 2, 1873, two years, eight months. 

Oliver Bulion — January 28. 1876. five years. 

W. H. Elson — June, 1881, ten years. 

Charles E. Vinzant — ^June, i8gi, six years. 

Jesse M. Neet — June, 1897, fourteen years. 

Homer J. Skeeters — February, 191 1, to present time. 

The foundation work for the county institute is to be credited largely 
to Superintendent Elson, although the development has come through many 
vears and each superintendent has contributed his share. In 1887 the en- 
rollment was 171 and the cost $205.00. Tn 1912 the enrollment was t6o and 
the cost $340.00. It is doubted if any movement in the schools of any state 
has been a greater source of inspiration than has the county institute, bring- 
ing as it does the best men of this and other states with messages of cheer. 

Along with the county institute has come the township institute, which 
has been of direct benefit to the schools. The teachers of the several town- 
ships meet and discuss questions of local interest and study books which deal 
with the hi.story of education, psychology of the child, method of the recita- 
tion or possibly a text which is wholly inspirational. These books are se- 
lected and outlined for study by the state board of education. Each town- 
ship chooses its leader ; but once each year, in each township, the county su- 
perintendent is the leader. 

One cannot write a historv of the development of the schools of this 
county without speaking of the Indiana Young People's Reading Circle nio\x- 
ment. This mo\ement began in 1884, but it was se\'eral years before it was 
a vital factor in the schools of the county. This work was furthered greatly 
by the unceasing energy of Superintendent J. M. Neet. Mr. Neet for six 
years was a member of the Indiana Young People's Reading Circle board 
and had the honor to serve for two years as its president. More than one 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 1 39 

year of his term this countx' was the banner county of the state and thousands 
of good books are purchased each year and placed in tlie hands of the chil- 
dren of the county as a result of his efforts in that line. 

Consolidation can only be said to be in use in twn townships and in 
those two. Liberty and Reserve, it is not carried out in the largest sense. 
Several other townshi])s ha\'e abandoned schools and now trans])ort the pu])ils 
to adjoining districts, but without changing the conditions of the school 
afifairs of the district that cares for the children. 

Township high schools have made a marvelous growth since the town- 
ship high school law passed by the General .\sscmbly of i()or. wherebv the 
townshi]! trustees may pro\ide secondary education. .\t the jjrescnt time the 
following townships maintain high schools: Florida, at Rosedale: Union, at 
Bellmore: Wabash, at Mecca: Washington, at Marshall: Raccoon, at Bridge- 
ton, and Liberty, at Tangier. Superintendent Skeeters has been \er\- instru- 
mental in getting' the standard of his township high schools such that the 
state board of education will place them on the list of certified and accredited 
schools. Besides these township high schools there are three other schools 
offering secondary instruction : The public high schools of RockviHe and 
Montezuma, and Friends Bloomingdale Academy. 

The academy has had an interesting history. Tn 1845 Harvey Thomas, 
a well known educator of Pennsylvania, conceived the idea of e.stablishing a 
Western manual labor school for the purpose of furnishing a thorough edu- 
cation to young persons of both sexes. At first there was a farm of about 
forty acres on which a suitable building was erected. Tt was soon disco\-ered 
that the manual labor system, though correct in theory, was not at all ])racti- 
cable on the small scale here tried and the plan was abandoned. The T-'riends 
church had been much interested and decided to take over the ])roperty. .\c- 
cordingly the Friends Bloomingdale .Vcademy was charteretl under the law, 
to be managed and controlled by the Bloomingdale ((uarterly meeting of the 
Friends church. The board of trustees selected (he principal and gave direct 
control to him. Those who have served in this cajjacity are B. C. Hobbs, 
Seth Hastings, John Chawner, Josiah P. Edwards, Thomas .Armstrong. .\. 
F. Mitchell. Tr\in,g King, W. J- Reagan, R. S. Coppock, \\'illiani Hill and 
Milton J. Hover. Three vears ago Prof. William Hill, a former resident of 
Bloomingdale, but now connected with Chicago University, organized the 
academy for the purpose of eventually establishing an agricultural school. The 
citizens of Bloomingdale and the friends of the academy were greatly pleased 
b)' his ])lan and much assistance was given the school. The grounds were 
beautified, the buildings remodeled, the faculty increased, courses in agricul- 



140 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

ture and domestic science were offered. An agricultural guild \Aas estab- 
lished by a number of farmers of the community. The present principal, 
Mr. Hover, has been working in sympathy with that movement. It cannot 
be told just how permanently the purpose of the academy has been changed, 
but tlie movement is laudable. The alumni of the academy numbers more 
than two hundred and fifty, the first class having graduated in 1869. 

Tlie attempt at graded schools in Rockville, the county seat, probably 
dates back to 1832. In 1839 Parke County Seminary was organized. A 
brick building was erected in the west part of town. James Brown was the 
principal and Matthew Simpson, later Bishop Simpson, was the assistant. In 
1873 a new building was erected at a cost of thirty-six thousand dollars. The 
graded schools were held here and the old seminary building was used for a 
colored school and is so used to the present day. Rockville is the only town 
in the county that provides separate schools for the colored race, instruction 
in both common school and high school studies being given in their own build- 
ing. The building of 1873 becoming inadequate, due to the increased attend- 
ance in high school, a fine modern building was erected in 1908. This has 
been a very strong factor, promoting interest in the schools, being a matter 
of common pride of the pupils and patrons as well. That the town and com- 
munity has availed itself of the high school is shown by the fact that four 
hundred and twenty-five have graudated from the high school since 1876. 
Rockville has always been fortunate in having as members of her board of 
education able and public-spirited citizens who have been glad to serve the 
best interests of the town and community. The present board consists of J. S. 
McFadden, president : O. M. Teague, secretary, and ^\^ S. Ferguson, treas- 
vu'er. 

In order that the statistical report of the present countv superintendent 
may mean anything in showing the advancement of the schools I shall briefly 
give some com])arative figures: 

In 1870 there were 118 schools: in 1912 there were no schools. 

In 1870 the total enrollment in the grades was 5.232, and in the high 
school. 142: in 1912 the total enrollment in the grades was 4,530. and in the 
high school. 383. 

In 1870 the average length of the school year was 98 days. Howard 
and Greene townships having 58 days and Rockville 178 days: in 1912 the 
average length of the school year was 147 days. Howard and Sugar Creek 
townships having 120 days and Rockville 165. 

In 1870 there were 131 teachers — 92 males and 39 females; in 1912 
there were 178 teachers — 69 miles and 107 females. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. I4I 

In 1870 there were four teachers employed in high school work; in 1912 
thirty teachers gave all their time to high school work. 

Average wages in 1870 were $2.00 per day; average wages in 1912 were 
$2.90 per day. 

In 1870 the value of school buildings was $89,000 and the value of equip- 
ment was $6,900; in 1912 the value of school buildings was $230,000 and 
the value of equipment was $10,000. 

In 1870 the total tuition expenditure was $26,688.05; in 1912 the total 
tuition expenditure was $73,415.86. 

In 1870 the total special school fund expended was $14,091.51 ; in 1912 
the total special school fund expended was $68,551.29. 

Such is a brief sketch of the development and progress made in the 
schools of Parke county. It is a record of which every citizen can be justly 
proud. And best of all, we are not content with the attainments already 
reached, but we can foresee even greater progress in the next quarter of a 
century than has taken place in the last half century. 



CHAPTER XI II. 



AGRICULTURE AND MINING. 



Agriculture and coal mining operations are the two leading industries 
and sources from which wealth is derived in Parke county. It was by the 
former that the sturdy pioneers made their living, and really is the great 
source which has developed the count\- into its present state of prosperity 
and perfection. The various township histories will deal considerably on 
this subject, in connection with the development of the county, but it will lie 
well here to note some of the points connected with the resources of the 
countv from these two industries. 

The land is somewhat more hilly than in other parts of the state, yet 
there are thousands of acres of rich alknial soil within Parke county that 
yields up its annual harvest to gladden and repay the industrious husband- 
man. It is seen in reports made to the state in 1880 — nearly a third of a 
century ago — which gi\'es the following report of the ])roductions of this 
county : 

In 1880, Parke county produced in bushels: Wheat, 636,000; oats, 
68,000: clover .seed, 3,600: corn, 1,085,942: Irish potatoes, 14,000; fall and 
winter apples, 78,000; peaches, 4.600; and of small fruits, 45,000 pounds of 
excellent gra])es. 1.500 gallons of strawberries, 8,200 gallons of currants, 
blackberries and raspberries. 6,000, with many cherries, etc. In the month 
of August, 1881. it was reported to the state that Parke county had growing 
38,000 acres of Indian corn; 11,000 of timothy meadow; 11,000 of clover; 
35,ocx> in blue grass; and that the year previous it had produced 32,000 gal- 
lons of cider, 11,500 of sorghum. 7,000 of maple syrup and made 28,000 
pounds of butter. The number of cattle reported that season was 16,000 
head; fattening hogs, 33.000; stock hogs. 21.000: sheep, 29,000 head, from 
which wool was clipped amounting to 100,000 pounds. The same year there 
were 150,000 chickens, 6.400 geese and ducks, 700 stands of bees, with a 
production of 8,800 pounds of honey. 

For the vear ending. April. 1881. there was mined in Parke county. 
8,000 tons of bituminous coal; number of coal miners. 166: 200 tons of fire- 
clay. It had sixty miles of first class turnpike, with twenty-five miles more 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. I43 

under construction. The present number of miles of gravel roads is some- 
thing over eight hundred miles, second to only two in Indiana. 

In 1910 I'arke countv, according to the L'nited States census bulletins, 
had 2,448 farms, and were classed as follows: 183 had from three to nine 
acres; 146 had from ten to nineteen acres; 475 had from twenty to forty- 
nine acres; 669 had from fifty to ninety-nine acres;. 581 had from one hun- 
dred to one hundred and seventy-four acres ; 250 had from one hundred and 
seventy-five to two hundred and fifty-nine acres: it8 had from two hundred 
and sixty to five hundred acres; 21 had- from five hundred to one thousand 
acres ; 5 had from one thousand acres and o\-er. The total land area was 
286,080. Land in farms, 236.392 acres. Improved land in farms, 166,741 
acres: woodland in farms, 67,326 acres: ])er cent. i>f area of land in farms, 
89.6: average number acres in a farm in the county, 104^ acres. 

The value of all farm property in 1910 was placed at $18,234,495. In- 
crease in value in last decade, 87 per cent. Average value per acre, $51.27. 
Value of cattle, $464,(100: horses, $890,000: nudes, $103,000: swine. $298,000; 
sheep, $89,490: poultry, $()0,6oo: colonies of bees, 987: value of bees, $3,852. 

AGRICULTURAL .SOCIETIES. 

More than half a century ago Parke county farmers took steps to organ- 
ize and sustain agricultural societies and associations, some of these being 
successful manv years, while others fell for want of united interest and effort. 
Parke and Vermillion counties were long associated together in county agri- 
cultural and annual fair enterprises. The old newspaper files disclose the 
facts that in 1855 and on through the Civil war period u]) to and including 
1865. fairs were held annually by these sister counties, jointly, some of which 
were held at Montezuma, while others were held elsewhere. Another ac- 
count shows that the Parke County Agricultural Society was holding its first 
annual fair in 1880, after a lapse of more than twenty years. The tair 
grounds were dedicated ; McCune's Band was present and an admission was 
charged to the grounds on the day of public dedication. Races were had 
between some of the fastest horses in Indiana. The president was S. Coll- 
ings; vice-president, James A. Allen; secretary, Da\id II. W'ebl;): treasurer, 
N. W. Cummings ; general superintendent, Shelby C. Puett. The grounds 
consisted of forty acres, with a splendid driving or race track: Ladies Hall, 
and many stock sheds and stalls. No "skin-games" of gaming and gambling 
were allowed on the grounds, no matter what price was tendered them by 
such gamesters. 



144 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

In June, 1866, there was held what was known as tlie Parke County 
Horticultural and Rural Institute, at Bloomingdale. The president was E. C. 
Silers; treasurer, Parley Pearson; secretary, John M. Hill. 

At all of these exhibits there were hundreds of fine displays in farm, 
garden, fruit, stock and handiwork, all from Parke county. 

At Bridgeton, Raccoon township, in the spring of i860, Abel Mitchell 
offered a premium for the best colt that could be shown in Bridgeton in June. 
At the appointed time there were twenty colts brought and about five hundred 
persons were present. This gave the idea of a fair. June i6th, that year, 
was organized what was styled the Bridgeton Union Agricultural Society, 
which became a joint-stock company and was incorporated. The fair grounds 
consisted of about twenty acres, with a good trotting race course. In 1880 
the reports show the society to have been in a flourishing condition. A few 
years later, however, all fairs in this county went down, including the Rock- 
ville fair, which closed about 1890. 

CROPS AND WEATHER. 

A record was kept on Silver Island, from 1834 to 1881, by Norburn 
Thomas, \\hich shows the weather and crops in that vicinity for the years 
included in the period named : 

1834 — All grain in bottom destroyed. 

1 83 .S -36-3 7-38 and '39 — Raised a good crop. 

1840 — Wheat badly rusted. 

1841-42 — A crop. 

1843 — Half destroyed. 

1844 — All destroyed July 7th. 

1845 to 1850 — A crop. 

1 85 1 — All destroyed June 15th. 

1852-3-4 — Very dry season. 

1855 — A crop and veiy wet year. 

1856 — No summer so dry since the settlement of county. 

1857 — Driest spring ever witnessed. 

1858 — Crop all destroyed. 

1859-62 — Good crops. 

1863 — Corn all frost bitten. 

1864 — Short crops. 

1865 — Partly lost in October. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. I45 

1866-7— Crops good. 

1868— Half lost. 

1869-73 — Fair crops. 

1875 — All destroyed ; highest \\ ater ever seen. 

1876— One-third lost. 

1877 — A good crop. 

1878-9 — Small portion lost. 

1880 — To Tune ist. one-third lost so far. 



(10) 



CHAPTER XIV. 



MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS RAILROADS. 



The state railroad commissioner's reports for 191 1-2 show the number 
of miles of each railroad in Parke county, main track, as follows : Central 
Indiana, 15.38; Brazil division of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, 26.08; 
Terre Haute division, Chicago & Eastern Illinois, 4.21 ; Chicago, Indiana & 
Western, 20.89; Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis, 1.07; Toledo, 
St. Louis & Western, 3.08; Vandalia, 23.44. This makes a total of 91.45 
miles of main trackage in Parke county. 

By an old newspaper file at Rockville, dated November 20, 1859, it is 
gleaned that at that date the first attempt, in public, to secure a railroad for 
Parke county was made, by holding a mass meeting at the court house, that 
week, to look toward securing the Evansville & Crawfordsville line. The 
company wanted Parke county to donate, in subscriptions, money to the 
amount of sixty thousand dollars. There were subscriptions made at this 
meeting amounting to ten thousand dollars. The work went forward, men 
worked for and against the project, and meeting after meeting was held, 
but subscription was not popular. 1861 came and with it the Civil war 
opened, which stopped all such enterprises. After the war, the county was 
still without a railroad line. Coal had been struck in paying quantities in 
many sections of the county, and was seeking its outlet to the great outside 
world, through some system of transportation. Five different lines sought 
to enter or cross this county in the early seventies, and all but two failed to 
accomplish tlieir iani. First, the Logansport, Crawfordsville & Southwest- 
ern, vi'hich was surveyed to Rockville in 1870, commenced to be constructed 
in 1871, and was completed to Rockville in 1872. Soon the old Evansville 
& Chicago line was leased to this company and it then made direct connec- 
tions between Terre Haute and Logansport. 

The east and west road, later styled the Indianapolis, Decatur & Spring- 
field line, had already gotten as far from the west as Montezuma, this county, 
bv the time of the 1873 panic, and by a series of mysterious business negotia- 
tions, its course was turned to the northeast and by Bloomingdale, and it 
was finallv completed across the county in 1877-8. So it will be observed 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. I47 

that Kockville, the county seat, had, with the central part of the county, a 
splendid grade and right-of-way, while the northern portion had the road 
itself; the crossing, instead of being at Rockvillc, as popular belief was that 
it would be, was at an inconsiderable way station, with several small towns 
and hamlets, instead of the concentrated railroad and commercial interests 
usually found at a county seat. The road, starting out from Attica, Foun- 
tain county, was destined, it was supposed, to run through this county, en- 
route to the southeast, but after several miles of track had been provided for 
in this county, it found its coal interests led it farther to the west, hence that 
did not materialize to do any commercial good for Rockville. 

After the shifting scenes of a full third of a century and more of pro- 
posed and completed steam railways, in this county the list has been narrowed 
down to these : The road from Terre Haute to the northeast, known as the 
Vandalia (of the Pennsylvania system) ; the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton 
line, from Montezuma eastward across the county; the Chicago & Eastern 
Illinois, running from north to south through Parke county, entering the 
territory in Liberty township and passing out at the south from Florida town- 
ship; the Central Indiana line. The commissioner's reports on the mileage 
of these various roads is found at the commencement of this item, and gives 
a total of less than ninety-six miles of road, but which gives ample outlet for 
the products of Parke county, in all directions one may desire to ship in or 
out. 

COAL MINING OPERATIONS. 

Some of the enterprising men tried taring for oil, but that was soon 
shown to be a geological absurdity in this county. Then all talk was about 
coal. Before the war, Professors Cox and Brown had made a hasty survey 
of Parke and shown that it was fortunately located on the eastern edge of the 
great Illinois coal field. Then local enthusiasts took up the work and proved 
that this county contained enough workable coal to supply the world for a 
thousand years. Later surveys lowered this claim a little, but ])roved be- 
yond controversy that Parke had eight good seams and enough for all prac- 
tical purposes. Mines were opened in every section of the county, but it 
soon appeared that there would be no market without a railroad, anil in a 
little while no less than five lines were laid off through the county, of which 
two were actually completed. First was the Logansport, Crawfordsyille & 
Southwestern, which was surveyed to Rockville in 1870. Work l>egan in 
1871 and trains started to Rockville early in 1872. Soon after, the company 



J 48 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

leased that part of the old Evansville & Chicago, above Terre Haute, and 
after that the road was managed entirely by them from Logansport to Terre 
Haute. 

Meanwhile the mining interests had developed rapidly. On Sand creek, 
three to four miles northeast of Rockville, private banks had been worked 
for many years : but the survey developed the fact that immense wealth in 
coal was waiting development there, and as soon as the Logansport railroad 
reached the locality active business began. The Sand Creek Coal Company, 
the French Mine Company, and several indi\iduals worked the ground 
actively for a while, and the large and flourishing village of Nyesville sprang 
up in the beech wood. For a long time development was hindered by strikes 
and other results of the ill adjustment of labor and capital, but ere long the 
coal mine there established a reputation which made it the preferred of all 
the accessable markets for heating and steam making. Long before the war 
there had been some coal mined from the Wabash bluffs, in Florida township, 
but now the improved transportation gave it a great stimulus, and the village 
of Clinton Locks was in like manner built up by miners and their families. 
And similarly, the mines on Lower Raccoon built Rosedale and other settle- 
ments. 

Coming down to the present day, the mining reports of Indiana give us 
these figures: Number of tons coal produced in Parke county in 1910, 
728,000 tons ; wages paid for mining the same, $780,260. The names of the 
mines operating in Parke county in 1910 were: Brazil, No. 9, seam four 
feet and three inches thick ; Superior No. 2, four feet and four inches thick ; 
Superior No. 3, three feet and three inches thick; Superior No. 5, three feet 
and three inches thick; Fairview, five feet seam; Parke No. 11, six feet six 
inches thick; Parke No. 12, six feet seven inches thick: Lyford No. i. six 
feet in thickness : Moore, four feet thick ; Harrison, three feet five inches 
thick; No. i, four feet two inches thick. 

The only mining accident reported during the year 1910 was that at 
Superior mine No. 3, where an Italian named Carlo Ponti was killed by a 
premature blast, on July 25th of that year. 

Coal was retailing at Rockville in the autumn of 19 12 at about three 
dollars and twenty-five cents per ton, thus giving the population cheap fuel 
for both domestic and manufacturing purposes. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. I49 

BANKING IN PARKE COUNTY. 

The first banking carried on in Rockville was by the Rockville Bank, 
organized in 1853. Besides some eastern capitaHsts. General Steele, Persius 
Harris and a few others became stockholders of a concern of which Brock- 
way and Levings of Cleveland, Ohio, were the chief factors, commencing 
with an advertised capital of $300,000. A three-ton fire-proof safe was 
brought from Terre Haute and placed in the Harris building, a three-story 
structure where Dooley's hardware stands. A force of men and twelve 
yoke of oxen succeeded in transporting the safe as far as the Armiesburg 
bridge, when all stood from under and held their breath while the ponderous 
load went safely o\er with its burden ! It was not long before the capitalists 
of the East and the Rock\il!e n'eu Iiad dift'ercnt \ iews on finances and hank- 
ing management, and the I'arke Count}- Bank was organized and commenced 
business September i, 1855, with a capital of $100,000. The first directors 
were: Alexander McCune, I. J. Silliman. John Sunderland, P. E. Harris, 
G. K. Steele, E. M. Benson, Dr. James L. Allen. John Milligan and Salmon 
Lusk. In July, 1863, the stockholders concluded to wind up their afl^airs 
and apply for a charter for a national bank. The board of directors was 
fixed at nine and the capital at $125,000, and on September ist the assets of 
the old corporation were turned over to the First National Bank and the lat- 
ter assumed the liabilities of the former. General Steele had been president 
of the Parke County Bank from its first formation ; he was now elected 
president of the national bank, and continued to lie annually elected until 
1871, when he declined to serve longer. Calvin \V. Levings had also been 
cashier of the old bank from its inception, and he continued in that position 
in the National bank. In 1864 the capital was increased to $150,000 and in 
1869 to $200,000. In July. 1877. the afifairs of the bank were wound up, 
and a new charter was received under the name of the National Bank of 
Rockville, with a capital of $100,000. The First National Bank of Rock- 
ville was the sixty-third national bank incorporated in the United States. 
Their building was completed in 1869. and went through tlie disastrous fire 
in 1870, unscathed. The charter of this bank expired May 14. 1897, when 
the title was changed to that of the Rockville National Bank and a new 
charter secured. In 181)6 the capital of this institution was $ioo.ocx): de- 
posits, $152,000; resources and liabilities, $318,815. Its present capital 
.stock is $50,000; surplus and profits, $78,431; circulation, $50,000; deposits 
in November, 1912, were $424,657. thus making its liabilities $548,439.36. 



150 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Its table of resources as shown in statement of September, 1912, were: 
Loans and discounts, $221,435.03; overdrafts, $5.12; United States bonds 
for circulation, $50,000; bonds, securities^ etc., $113,151.06; banking house 
and fixtures, $20,000 ; cash in vaults, $29,340.69 ; cash due from banks, 
$112,007.46; due from United States treasurer, $2,500; total, $548,439.36. 
This bank belongs on tlie "Roll of Honor," sliowing that it possesses surplus 
and profits in excess of capital, thus giving tangible evidence of strength and 
security. Of the 7,500 National Banks in this country, only 1,300 occupy 
this proud position, and this Rockville institution is among the number. It 
goes without saying that it has been won by merit and worth alone. 

In the original bank building, erected in 1869, provision was made for 
what was long known as the National Hall, a public auditorium, seating six 
hundred persons. It had a large stage and a handsome drop curtain, well 
remembered by many now residing here in Rockville. It had dressing rooms 
and was fully up-to-date. Its roof had a resort place where many select 
parties were held, and there they surveyed the attractive landscape presented 
by nature round about the town. Here hundreds viewed the total eclipse 
of the sun in August, 1869, a rare sight for any generation of men to behold. 
Concerts were held there, men and women were there united in marriage, and 
many happy gatherings were there assembled. Rut, like all earthlv things, 
the building was doomed. On November 16, 1906, it was burned and the 
present magnificent brick structure was built the following year, and in it 
the postoffice is kept. This building and its elegant fixtures would do credit 
to any city in the country. 

The officers of this concern have been in part as follows: Presidents, 
George K. Steele, Alexander McCune, Nathan Pickett; (National Bank of 
Rockville) J. M. Nichols to January i, 1894; S. L. McCune from January 
I, 1894, until expiration of charter, May 14, 1897: (Rockville National 
Bank) S. L. McCune, until January 3, 1897; S. T. Catlin. from June 3, 
1897, to December, 1908, when he died; F. H. Nichols, from December 12, 
1908, to the present time, November, 1912. 

The cashiers have been : Calvin W. Levings. S. A. Hornick, William 
Magill, William E. Livengood, S. L. McCune, F. H. Nichols, from 1894 to 
expiration of the charter May 14, 1897, and under the new charter until 
elected president in December, 1908 ; A. T. Brockway, present cashier. The 
present assistant cashier is W. H. Dukes ; also Edgar Teague. M. H. Case 
is the present vice-president. S. L. and M. H. McCune were former vice- 
presidents. 

The Parke State Bank was organized, as the Parke Banking Company, 



PARKE AND X^ERMILLION COUNTIES. INDIANA. I5I 

I 

by A. K. Stark, D. A. Coulter and J. H. Tate, as a private l)aiik. The same 
year they erected their bank Iniilding. a two-story brick, twenty by ninety- 
three feet in size, located on tlie northeast corner of the Square. In 1875 
Mr. Coulter withdrew, selling his interest to his partners. In June, 1886, 
Mr. Tate resigned as cashier and removed to Omaha, Nebraska; Alfred H. 
Stark was made acting cashier, serving until 1887, when he was made cashier. 
In 1893 it was incorporated as the Parke Bank, D. W. Stark becoming asso- 
ciated with the new concern, a state bank. A. K. Stark was elected presi- 
dent and A. H. Stark was made cashier. The bank was re-incorporated 
under the banking laws of Indiana in 1902, under the title of Parke State 
Bank. Its officers in November, 1912, were A. K. Stark, chairman; A. H. 
Stark, president; W. J. White, vice-president; G. C. Miller, cashier; H. M. 
Rice, assistant cashier. The statement of the bank September 4, 19 12, 
shows resources and liabilities to the amount of $538,277.95. The cash 
capital is $75,000; surplus, $20,000; undivided profits, $12,052.06; deposits, 
$424,556.07. 

The management of this banking house is beyond question among the 
best in the country. Its stock is owned by some fifty prominent citizens of 
Parke county, seven of whom compose the board of directors, who participate 
in the actual management of the bank's affairs. The board of directors is 
composed of the following representative business men: A. B. Collings, 
capitalist: W. E. Ferguson, of I'^erguson Lumber Company; \V. B.. Thomp- 
son, of Thompson Co. ; A. K. Stark, A. H. Stark, W. J. White and G. C. 
Miller. Their work is all checked by an auditing committee, composed of 
three other stockholders, besides which precaution, the bank is regularly ex- 
amined by the state banking department. This double check of accounts 
makes it doubly safe and secure to its depositors and stockholders. 

At Montezuma there have been two small banking houses, private con- 
cerns, of no great consequence, that went down years ago. Aside from 
those there have never been any banks in Parke county until the present ones 
were formed, and of which the following is a complete list, with particulars 
concerning them and their present standing, officers, etc. : 

PRESENT BANKS OF PARKE COUNTY. 

The First National Bank of Montezuma was established in 1904. Its 
present officers are : President, S. P. Hancock ; vice-president, J. E. Johnston ; 
cashier, R. W. Johnston. Its capital is $25,000; deposits, $90,000. 

The Citizens National Bank of Montezuma, established in 1909, has a 



152 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

capital of $16,000, and deposits amounting to $95,000. Officers: W. E. Dee, 
president; C. \\'. Hughes, vice-president; S. P. Hancock, cashier. 

Rosedale N^ational Bank, organized in 1908, has a capital of $25,000 
and deposits of $95,000. Officers: Thomas Conley, president; E. R. Bald- 
ridge, vice-president; Clyde Riggs, cashier. 

The Bank of Bloomingdale was organized in 1907, and has a capital of 
$30,000 and deposits of $240,000. Officers : E. E. Neal, president ; Cyrus E. 
Davis, vice-president; W. M. Haig, cashier. 

Mecca Bank, established 1911, has a capital of $25,000: deposits of 
$120,000. Officers; William E. Dee, president; Edward Shirkie, vice- 
president; S. P. Hancock, cashier. 

Citizens Bank of Marshall, established in 1903, has a capital of $20,000; 
deposits amounting to $80,000. Officers : James C. Swaim. president ; O. 
W. Burford, cashier. 

The organization of the banks at Rock\'ille has l)eeii t^iven in full above. 

In all the passing years Parke county has never had but one bank failure, 
that of a small private concern at Montezuma, years ago. The banks of 
Rockville came through the various panics and today are the business and 
financial pride of the entire county. 

VILLAGE PLATS. 

The following village plattings have been made in Parke county : 

Armiesburg. platted prior to 1832, on sections 7 and 12, township 15, 
range 8 west. Plat, as executed originally, destroyed by fire of 1832. It is 
situated in ^^■abash township, on the old canal. 

Annapolis, on the northwest quarter of section 12, township 16, range 8 
west, was platted February 4, 1837. by \\'il1iani Maris. Sr.. and John 
Moulder. 

Bridgeton. on section 22, township 14. range 7 west, by James and Mary 
Searing. March 27. 1857. 

Bloomingdale. platted September 30, 1865. on sections 13 and 24, town- 
ship 16. range 8 west, by William Pickard. H. B. Little and A. D. Tomlinson. 

Catlin, platted in townships 14 and 15. range 7. in the early sixties. 

Coloma. platted on sections 33 and 34, township 16, range 8, January 27. 
1876. bv fifteen persons. 

Diamond, platted on section 34, township 14, range 7, by the Brazil 
Block Coal Company, December 10, 1893. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 1 53 

Fullerton (Lodi), platted on section 2, townsliip \j. range 9, by Jesse 
Bovven and others, April 13, 1836. 

Guion, platted on section 7, township 16, range 6. hy Robert F. Bruin, 
January 7, 1882. 

Howard, platted l-"ebruary, 1848, by John (iaw, just west of Westport. 

Hudnut, platted on section 14, township 14, range 9 west, by Joseph W. 
Morey, April 27, 1880. 

Judson, platted on section 24, township 16, range 7 west. May 4, 1872, 
by Alexander Buchanan. 

Jessup, platted by John Barnes, February 26. 1887, on secticMi 14, town- 
ship 14, range 8 west. 

Klondyke, platted on section 31, township iTi, range 8 west, January 15, 
1907, by William E. l^^rguson, Walter S. Ferguson and Mary Ferguson. 

Lyford, platted on the southeast of section 14, township 14, range 9 west. 
May 14. 1892. by William H. Bonner. 

Lena, platted on section 33. township 14, range 6 west, 1)\- Robert IT. 
King, February 15, 1871. 

Lyford City, platted on sections 14 and 27,, townshi]) 14, range 9 we^t, 
by John B. Shaw . .August 8, 1892. 

Montezuma, platted on sections 2=,. 26. 35, 36. township 16. range 9 
west, by .\mbrose Whitlock, July 20, 1849. 

Mansfield platted August 4, 1852, by Samuel B. Gookins. 

Marshall, platted on section 9, township 16, range 7 west, by .Alfred 
Hobson and Mar\' Hobsbn, November 19, 1879. 

Mecca, plattefl on section 20, township 15, range 8, August 7, 1890, by 
Samuel T.. McCune. 

Xuma was platted by John \\'ilson, Octol)er 10, 1836, on section 23, 
township 14, range 9 west. 

Northampton, platted on sections 7 and 8, township 16, range 6 west, 
December 26, 185 1, by William and John .Aydelott and Jesse Collings, 

Nyesville, platted on section 34, township iTi. range 7 west, bv Martin 
Newling, October 18, 1872. 

Parkville, platted in township 16, range 6 west, October 4, 1837, b\- 
Presley Doggett. 

Rockville foriginan, platted February 28, 1823, on section 7, township 
15, range 7 west, by William P. Bryant and T. .\. f Toward. 

Rosedale, platted on parts of sections 23, 27 and 34. township 14, range 8. 

Sylvania. platted on section 10, township 17, range 8 w-est, bv David 
Hadley, September 6, 1839. 



154 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Tangier, platted by William B. Swaine and Edmund Lindley, March 13, 
1886. on section 15, township 17, range 8. 

Westport (now Howard), platted by T. X. Burton and James R. Bur- 
ton, on section 18, township 17, range 8 west, June 20, 1836. 

West Union, platted on section 17, township 16, range 8 west, February' 
18 1837, by John G. Hongham. 

\Vest Atherton, platted on section 36, township 14, range 9 west, by 
Sirena L. Modesett, August 23, 1908. 

\\'aterman (formerly Lodi), on section 8, township 17, range 9 west. 

POPULATION OF PARKE COUNTY. 

The population of this county, according to the 1910 United States cen- 
sus reports, was as follows : 

Total population, 22,214; the towns, cities and villages as listed in the 
census compendium was, Annapolis, 200; Bloomingdale, 528; Bridgeton, 219; 
Catlin, 185; Colma, 184; Diamond, 1,070; Guion, 50; Jessup, 75; Judson, 
141; Lena, 225; Lyford, 100: Marshall 334; Mecca, 1,350; Montezuma, 
1,537; Nyesville, 95; Rockville, 1,943; Rosedale, 1,166; Sylvania, 200: Tan- 
gier, 275. 

The total population of the county in 1861 was 15,538; in 1870 it had 
reached 18,166, and in 1880 it was placed by census reports at 19,406. 

From the above it will be observed that of the inhabitants in 1910 there 
were 9,810 living in the towns and villages, while the balance of 12,333 re- 
sided in the country, the total being, in 1910, 22,214. (See Township His- 
tories for present population of each township.) 

The above shows an increase in population of three and four-tenths per 
cent, between 1900 and 1910. The county has 474 square miles and a popu- 
lation to each square mile (average) of 49.7 persons. 

The foreign population includes: Austrians, 176; English, 149; Italians, 
163; Scotch, 103; Welsh, 28. 

The sex are divided, 11,556 males and 10,658 females. 

The per cent, of illiteracy in the county is 5.3 per cent, of the entire popu- 
lation. 

Those of school age are 6,770; of those attending schools, 4,604, or 88 
per cent. 

The number of dwellings in the county is, 5,349: number of families, 
5.414- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 155 

WITNESS TREES. 

The late J. H. Beadle is authority that there were in all about three 
thousand "witness trees" blazed by the United States government surveyors 
in this county, as shown by the record of the land office. In 1880 there were 
but a few still standing, the balance either having died from old age or been 
thoughtlessly cut down by the axeman. At that date there was an effort 
made to prevent these trees from being destroyed. 

RECORDS BURNED. 

In the month of November, 1832, the building containing the deeds and 
other valuable public records of Parke county was burned. All deed records 
were burned save those recorded in book "D," which was opened November 
I2th the year before and was only about half filled. These deeds were all 
recorded with a quill pen in elegant style of penmanship by the recorder, 
Wallace Rea. 

LEGAL EXECUTIONS. 

The first legal execution in Parke county was that of Noah Beauchamp, 
on Friday, February 8, 1843, i" the timber southeast of the Rockville ceme- 
tery, by Sheriff Jesse Youmans. People came from far and near to this 
execution, even from Illinois and surrounding counties in this state. It was 
a bitter cold day and several women, with babes on their arms, were present 
and drank whisky freely, with the men, in order to "drive out the cold." 

The second execution in the county was that of Buck Stout, on August 
8, 1883. l)v Jolin R. Musser. This was really a case from Montgomery county, 
but was tried in the courts of Parke county. 

TAX.-VTION LIST OF 1 833. 

The following shows how property was taxed in 1833, in Parke county: 

Poll tax 37>^c 

First-class land, per acre, one hundred acres 80c 

Second-class land, per hundred acres 60c 

Third-class land, per hundred acres 40c 

Each hundred dollars bank or other stock 25c 

Each town or out lot, one-half cent per dollar assessed 
valuation. 



156 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

SOLDIER^S REUNION, 1 875. 

The greatest military gathering in Parke county was in 1875. wiien a 
reunion was held of the old soldiers. At least fifteen thousand people gath- 
ered at Rockville, and the occasion was graced by the appearance of Gen. 
\Villiam T. Sherman, one of the two great heroes of the civil conflict. 

M.\RKET QUOTATIONS. 

Tn 1854 the True Rcf^iiblican, of Rockville, had the following- local mar- 
ket quotations in its columns: Flour, $7.00 per barrel: wheat, $1.10: corn, 
48 cents : oats, 40 cents : rye, 45 cents : molasses, per gallon, 2^ cents : coffee. 
43 cents: sugar, 5 cents: rice, 6 cents: butter, 28 cents: bacon, 7 cents: ham. 
15 cents: eggs. 10 cents: tea, from 60 cents to $1.00: cheese, 10 cents: honey, 
15 cents: chickens, per dozen, $1.50. 

The quotations at Rockville in October, 1865, a decade later, and after 
th close of the Civil war, were as follows: Wheat, $2.00: apples, $1.00; 
Iri,sh potatoes. 40 cents: butter, per ]X)und, 35 cents: eggs, per dozen, 15 
cents: lard, per ])ound, 20 cents: bacon, 20 cents: feathers, per pound, 60 
cents. 

The present year, 1912, papers give the following in their September 
issues, as being the going prices ; Corn, 69 cents : wheat, 83 cents : oats, 40 
cents; barley, 53 cents; rye, 70 cents: flax-seed. $1.62; potatoes, $1.13; hay. 
$14.00; butter, 23 cents; eggs, 18 cents; hogs, $7.11; clover seed, $9.80; 
wool, 18 cents; coal oil, 15 cents: gasoline, 20 cents; nails. 3 cents: calico, 6 
cents: muslin, to cents: sugar, 6 cents. 

DAYS OF MOURNING IN PARKE COUNTY. 

The news of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, on the 
night of April 14, 1865, at Ford's theater, W'a.shington, D. C, by the shot 
fired by J. \\'ilkes Booth, and from which wound he died at 7 -.22 the follow- 
ing morning, was received at Rock\ille just as the citizens \vere making out a 
program for a great jollification meeting over the news of the previous day 
of the surrender of Confederate General Lee to General Grant, which meant 
the close of the war. The jollification meeting was turned into one of mourn- 
ing, and Governor Oliver P. Morton, who had announced by proclamation 
that April 20th would be observed the state over by the loyal L'nion citizens 
as a dav of jubilee and rejoicing, recalled his proclamation and that day was 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 1 57 

set apart in Indiana as a clay of mourning for the fallen magistrate. At 
Rock\ille no large demonstration was held, hut the citizens met at the court 
house the day following the receipt of the sad news and arranged for a ])ul)lic 
meeting on the following Sabkith at the court house, at which Rev. .McXutt 
was called to serve as chaimian and Samuel Magill, .S. 1". Maxwell and 
Thomas N. Rice were appointed a committee to retire and draft a set of 
resolutions, which had five sections and which were soon presented and 
passed by the assembly, after which the Doxologv was sung and the bene- 
diction prmiounced. The hour seemed too sad and sacred to make speeches 
and none were made, at length. It was a l)low which struck to the very 
heart of all. and it was many weeks before the people of Rockville and 
Parke countv could rally from the terrible shock of real grief. 

Garfield's death. 

Wednesday, September 21. 1881. memorial services over the death of 
President James A. Garfield were held in Rockville. at the Presbyterian 
church. The business houses were tastily draped and all places closed during 
the exercises that afternoon. Flags were hungat half mast. At two o'clock 
the bell tolled its solemn tones, in memoriam of the death of an assassinated 
President, the second in this country. The audience within the church sat in 
quiet and hushed attention. The McCune Cadets marched with draped flags 
and reversed arms from the annory and. upon invitation, took seats near the 
stand. The church was appropriately decorated under direction of Capt. 
J. F. Meacham, Dr. Wirt, and Misses Mary AIcEwen and Maggie Thompson. 
A large portrait of the deceased President, in a shield embellished with the 
flag, crepe and flowers, hung on the wall behind the pulpit. Above this were 
in large, golden letters of beautiful design, the then memorable words. "God 
reigns." Hon. Thomas X. Rice was president of the day and spoke touching- 
ly. Rev. W. P. Cummings offered invocation and Rev. William Y. .Mien 
read the Scriptures. Short addresses were made by A I'. White, Rev. John 
L. Boyd, Rev. McSmith, Dr. Gillum and J. T. Johnstqji. At the close, the 
Cadets fired their military salute and marched l)ack to their armory. 

The next Sundav memorial services were held in the Christian church. 

m'kinlet's de.vtii. 

Again the hand of the as.sassin laid low another bcloxed President. Will- 
iam McKinlev. who was shot in Buffalo, New York, while attending the 



150 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Pan- American Exposition, and who died September 14, 1901, from the 
wounds inflicted upun him eight days earlier. A befitting tribute was paid to 
the dead President b}- the city of Rockville. The entire population devoted 
Thursday, September 19th, from two to four in the afternoon, to the honor 
of the beloved magistrate. When the hours for the exercises at the opera 
house arrived the auditorium was filled with truly sorrowing and reverent 
people. The decorations were in keeping with the occasion. A large picture 
of the dead President was quite prominent, being beautifully mounted, and 
underneath was the inscription: "God's will, not ours, be done." The meet- 
ing was called to order by S. D. Puett ; invocation by Rev. J. C. Christie ; a 
memorial sermon was delivered by Rev. H. N. Ogden; a short address was 
given by Hon. James T. Johnston, who was introduced as a personal friend, 
a comrade in the days of Civil war on the tented field and a colleague of his 
in Congress four years. He naturally spoke with much feeling of the la- 
mented President. Next, Elder O. E. Tomes followed Mr. Johnston with a 
brief tribute, in which he discoursed in a most masterly manner and compared 
Mr. McKinley's assassination with those of the lamented Garfield and Lin- 
coln. 

PRESIDENT GRANT MEMORIAL SERVICES. 

The Rockville Tribune, on July 23, 1885, contained this item : ■■\\'e stop 
our press, after a part of the edition is printed, to publish the following: 
'Western Union Dispatch — New York, July 23, 1885. General Grant died at 
8 :o8 a. m.' " 

Saturday, August 8, 1885, was obserxed in Parke county, and especially 
in Rockville, as well as generally through the United States, in honor of ex- 
President U. S. Grant. By common consent all business took second place 
in people's minds, in city, town, village and country, all parties and classes 
uniting in public testimonials to the memory of General Grant, as he was best 
known. Rockville had ser\ices not soon to be forgotten by the younger gen- 
eration. It was stated at the time that perhaps no town of the size in all the 
broad land observed the day so worthily and well as did Rockville. Before 
noon, a large concourse of people was on the streets; the proprieties of the 
occasion (that being the funeral day of Grant in New York City) were well 
preserved. Soon after noon all business was suspended. The Opera House 
Band took its place in the west balcony of the building and played a sweet 
and plaintive air, which music touched the heart of every one in hearing, 
more than all the words spoken on that occasion could possibly have done. 
The Grand Armv of the Republic issued from their hall and marched in step 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 1 59 

with the music to the opera house, faced outwardly and ga\e the order, 
"Salute the dead," then dispersed among the audience. The body of the 
house was completely filled and a portion of the large gallery. Chaplain Rev. 
B. P. Runkle offered prayer, solemn and impressive; Hon. Alfred F. White, 
chairman, announced the order of exercises; Capt. John H. Lindley read the 
memorial address; Hon. Thomas N. Rice followed with the regular oration. 
It will long rank as among the local classics. He traced thoughtfully and 
tenderly Grant's every step from Cadet Grant and Lieutenant Grant, to the 
great commander over millions of men. Next Capt. Frank M. Howard 
spoke in behalf of the Grand Army of the Republic, emphasizing the "uncon- 
ditional surrender" and "fight it out on this line if it takes all summer" theories 
of Grant, and wound up his remarks by these eloquent words : ' 'But, we 
comrades would love to believe that since the day he died, somewhere on 
the Elysian plains, the boys each night have bivouacs around the old com- 
mander. The G. A. R. salutes the dead comrade and general! Men shall 
not look upon your like again, Old Soldier, hail and farewell!" 

John H. Beadle spoke of Grant as a citizen. Dr. W. H. Gillum was in- 
vited to represent the Confederate army. He praised Grant for his militarj' 
bearing and tact, and also for his great magnanimity in his final hour of 
victory over the South. He said that in his humane conduct that he had ex- 
celled all other commanders, either North or South. It was not blood and 
revenge Grant worked for, but peace and prosperity, and for these he con- 
tended and finally won over the "Lost Cause" which the speaker fought for 
in the Confederate ranks. 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE STATE TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITAL. 

At Rockville, the county seat of Parke county, is located the Indiana 
State Tuberculosis Hospital, and while it is a state institution, it is deemed 
a proper subject to be placed in the annals of Parke county. From facts ob- 
tained from the late Dr. H. B. Leavitt. the popular, talented and efficient su- 
perintendent, whose death was chronicled this autumntime, and from other 
sources, the following may be relied upon as the history of this institution 
to date of November, 1912 : 

After prolonged efforts on the part of the state health authorities, who 
had repeatedly shown the necessity of a state tuberculosis hospital, the Legis- 
lature of 1905 passed a resolution authorizing the Governor to appoint a 
committee to investigate the need of such an institution, and report their 
findings and conclusions to the next Legislature. The committee was ap- 
pointed and after a proper investigation it made a report to the Legislature 
in 1907, recommending that the state of Indiana needed a tuberculosis hos- 
pital and that two hundred and fifty thousand dollars be appropriated for 
that purpose, but the Legislature only appropriated enough to purchase a site 
and authorized the Governor to appoint a commission to locate and purchase 
a site. The committee was constituted as follows: J. N. Babcock, Topeka; 
Dr. Henry McClure, Indianapolis; Benjamin F. Bennett, Greensburg; Isaac 
R. Strouse, Rockville : W. S. Holman, Aurora. This committee of five in- 
spected twenty sites in this state and hospitals in other states, and finally 
selected and purchased five hundred and four acres, three miles east of Rock- 
land is rich bottom ground, while the rest is rolling high pasture and woods. 
The commission made a report to the Governor and Legislature in 1909 and 
asked for an appropriation of three hundred thousand dollars for the pur- 
pose of erecting a hospital which would accommodate two hundred and sixty 
patients, but the Legislature appropriated only one hundred and thirty thou- 
sand dollars. The commission then proceeded to commence the erection of 
a hospital, first, an administration building, a power house to the rear, which 
furnishes steam heat, water and electric lights to the in.stitution. Next to this 
is a steam laundry, w ith all modern ecjuipment. On the sides of the adminis- 
tration building are two pavilions, one for men and one for women, connected 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. l6l 

with the atlniJnistr;ition building b}- means of two covered corridors. Tiie 
ward buildings contain fort)- rooms each, witli bath rooms, sun parlors, diet 
kitchens and nurses' rooms. The upstairs and downstairs porches run the 
entire length of the building except where the sun parlors run through them 
in the middle. The rooms upstairs are equipped with so-called Indiana con- 
vertible sleepers, a device used in no other state institution in this country. 
Each room is equipped with a bed, dresser and chairs. A corridor at the rear 
of the rooms runs the entire length of the pavilion and connects with the 
glazed corridor to the administration building. The glazed corridors from 
the pavilions to the main buildings have proved indispensable during cold 
winter weather. The administration building contains on the first floor busi- 
ness ofifice, superintendent's office, examining room, operating room. X-ray 
room, staff dining room and board of trustees' room. The second and third 
floors furnish the quarters for the staff and employes. The laboratory, dark 
room and store rooms are located in the basement. In the rear of the admin- 
istration building are the kitchen and patients' dining rooms, and in the 
basement the ice plant and cold storage rooms, bake shop and the employes' 
dining room. 

The commission then made a final report to Governor Marshall and 
turned the hospital and site over to him. The Governor accepted it on the 
part of the state and issued a proclamation October 31, 1910, and appointed 
Dr. Henry Moore, of Indianapolis, Isaac R. Strouse, of Rockville, and Dr. 
O. V. Schuman, of Columbia City, as trustees to manage the institution. This 
board i|ualified under the law and held their first meeting December i, 1910. 
The Legislature of 1911 made an appropriation for maintenance of the in- 
stitution for two and one-half years at the rate of nine dollars per week for 
each patient, also made a specific appropriation to stock and equip the farm, 
build a roadway to the hospital and completely equip the wards, ad.niinistra- 
tion building, power house and laundry. They also made an appropriation 
of five thousand dollars to erect ten houses for fifty patients. After the 
population of the hospital had reached one hundred patients, the trustees ad- 
vertised in various journals and received more than thirty applicants from 
eight different states for the position of superintendent. After due consid- 
eration and examination. Dr. H. B. Leavitt, of Worthington, Indiana, was 
elected as superintendent, and Dr. W. A. Gekler, of the Winyah Sanitarium, 
of Asheville, North Carolina, was selected as head physician of the hospital, 
which was opened for patients April 1, 1911, with one patient, a staff con- 
sisting of superintendent, head physician and matron and the following em- 

(lO 



l62 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

ploj'es : Two trained nurses, an electrician, engineer and firenian, laundry- 
man and assistant, baker, head cook, two waitresses in dining room, dish 
washer and two domestics, a farmer, dairyman, carpenter and teamster. The 
force has been added to from time to time as necessity demanded. 

The operating and treatment room, which has since been more fully 
equipped, serves for the minor surgery and dressings, and various other treat- 
ments, such as nose and throat. The examining room, which is the office of 
the head physician, contains the chart records which are kept for all the 
patients. The chart system at the hospital is really a composite of the bes* 
systems in use in other public and private institutions of the country, and is 
second to none in the point of completeness and amount of information kept 
on file. 

During the first year of its existence this hospital discharged thirty 
patients as cured ; that is, every sign of activity in the lungs on physical exam- 
ination had disappeared and the general condition equal to or better than that 
during usual health. This classification of cured patients is somewhat more 
exacting and less favorable for statistics than that of manv other institutions, 
but is also much more reliable and trustworthy. The hospital has not been 
opened long enough to ascertain the percentage of relapses among these cured 
cases. The number of those in whom the disease has been arrested is about the 
same as those cured. Many of these arrested cases ha\e. l)v taking care of 
themselves at home, resulted in cures. The term "arrested case" is ap]ilied to 
those who no longer present any of the symptoms of the disease and whose 
general condition is normal, but in whose chests there are still some slight 
signs of activity. Ver\' fe^v patients who ha\-e remained in the institution 
more than a week or two have failed to show improvement as manifested in 
subsidence of symptoms and gains in weight and strength. As is to be ex- 
pected, a number of patients have been admitted to the hospital, who simply 
refused to stay an}^ length of time and, of course, showed no lirilliant results. 
The average gain in weight among those who gain is over ten pounds, while 
the average loss is about three pounds. In addition to the physical benefits 
the patients derive from their stay at the hospital, each one of them gets a 
first-hand object lesson in personal cleanliness and careful and proper dis- 
posal of sputum. They are, by means of pamphlets and lectures, given all 
the information possible concerning the disease so as to be of benefit to those 
about them upon their return home in an educational wa\-. Tlie law govern- 
ing the institution requires that only incipient cases be admitted for treat- 
ment, but it is often hard to draw the line between incipient and moderately 
advanced cases. It has been the policy of the institution to accept all those in 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 163 

whom a cure or at least decided improvement lias seemed to be possil)le re- 
gardless of the amount of lung involvement. .Xdxanced cases, in which the 
disease is limited to one side only can be treated b>' some means of artificial 
pneumothorax and if not cured, at least decidedly improved, but there are 
many cases which cannot be accepted. 

Isaac Strouse. of Rockville. editor of the Tribune, above named as one 
of the original committee to select a site for this hospital, and who really 
had more to do with the final selection at Rockx'ille than any other memljer 
of the committee, is now a trustee of the institution and since the death of 
Dr. Leavitt, has had active management of the institution. The i)eople of 
Parke county will owe a debt of gratitude that years cannot repay, for the 
services Mr. Strouse has been able to render them in the matter. Since 
the death of Dr. Leavitt, Mrs. Leavitt has lieen appointed matron of the in- 
stitution, an appointment worthily bestowed. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



TOWN OF ROCKVILLE. 



Parke county was organized in 1821. Rockville was laid out in 1824 
and settled as the county seat permanently that year and received its name 
from the granite bowlders thereabouts. Gen. Arthur Patterson and Judge 
McCall donated twenty acres of land, Aaron Hand twenty and Andrew Ray 
forty acres, on which the public square and present business houses are lo- 
cated, in 1823-4, when a native forest was cut from the town site and Andrew 
Ray built the first house, a log cabin. In 1825 the town had between five and 
six hundred population. 

After Rockville had reached its townhood, the first persons to come in 
were Gen. Arthur Patterson and Judge James B. McCall. They had just 
arrived and fairly got settled as the platting was accomplished. McCall was 
a surveyor of land. These two men erected the first business house, a large 
one-story frame, situated on the southwest corner of the Square, where now 
stands the Presbyterian church. Some years later it was raised to a two-story 
structure. General Patterson was a man of polished manners, very energetic 
and strong-willed; he was the life of the town, and its progress was largely 
due to his untiring energies. He was the .father of Judge Patterson, of 
Terre Haute. McCall, his partner, was a surveyor and lawyer, but gave no 
attention to either profession while residing in Rockville. He died by his own 
hand, at Vincennes. In 1826 about a dozen families came in, but the town 
grew slowly. In addition to those named, were John Ashpaw, Jeremiah 
Ralston, Wallace Ray, the Lockwoods and Dr. Leonard and Dr. McDonald. 
The number was increased by James and Robert McEwen, who came in 
March and at once put in their tannery, the first in the county, aside from 
that of Caleb Williams, who located in 182 1. James Strain, Sr., a tanner by 
trade, came in March, 1824, and went to work with Williams, but in a few 
vears bought tlie machinery of the tannery and moved to Rockville. Both 
finally run down and were little used after 1850. In a couple of years the large 
trade carried on by Patterson and McCall attracted other business men to 
Rockville. Before 1830 Duncan Darroch, John R. Marshall, John Sunder- 
land and Persius Harris were all engaged in mercfiandising here. Harris 
was a Campbellite minister. Marshall and Darroch were in trade on the 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 165 

south side as early as the winter of 1826-7. Sunderland's store was on the 
southwest corner of the Square, on the south side of High street. Andrew 
Foote opened a store soon after and was in trade for many years. Wallace 
Ray was the first postmaster and w^as succeeded by Matthew Noel, who was 
an early justice of the peace. Scott Noel came in 1826 and held many public 
positions, being postmaster many years. Jonas Randall came from Ohio in 
1829 and erected the old Hungerford buildings. James Pyles was an early 
blacksmith. In 1S32 he was keeping hotel. In 1827 there were two cabinet 
shops — small affairs — and there the household furniture such as had to be 
purchased was made and repairing done; also the few coffins needed were 
made and trimmed in these shops. Not long after 1830 James McCanipbell 
and McMurty started in business. These men were merchants and pork- 
packers, and carried on a large trade with New Orleans. The next business 
men were Walter C. Donaldson and Erastus M. Benson, who opened a store. 
Tyler S. Baldwin, who, with Judge Bryant, had been reared among the 
Shakers in Kentucky, was also a prominent business man. George W. Sill 
and James Depew first clerked for Baldwin, but later became his partners. 
Sill arrived here in 1833, and continued in trade for twenty-fi\e years. It is 
related that his "words were softer than oil." In 1836 Jeremiah Ralston was 
conducting a store in Rockville. Adamson & Robinson and Levi Sidwell all 
settled about 1836. The last named, in company with Mr. Rosebraugh, 
opened the first drug store, Robert Allen & McMurty being in trade about 
this date also. The firm of A. M. Houston & Company was composed of 
General Alexander, M. Houston, William P. Mulhallen and Pembroke S. 
Cornelius. Houston's jiarliiers were all young men., but lie was a noted char- 
acter in Rockville and community He had been a general in the militia 
and served under Jackson in one of the Indian campaigns. He was a South- 
ern gentleman, who had not altogether escaped Southern ways and vices. In 
his early days he had been a gambler, and had made and retained a good for- 
tune, and lived in elegance and ease. Later in life he was converted to the 
Christian faith and united with the Presbyterian church, in which he was ever 
afterward an active member. 

The first millinery store in Rockville was established by Mrs. Lucinda 
Bradley, about 1837: her husband was a carpenter. Mrs. Lucy Smith and 
Mrs. W^atson each had shops a little later, .\nother pioneer was Gabriel 
Houghman, who came in from Butler county. Ohio, in 1830, settling a half 
mile south of town, but in ^8;iy moved to the town and engaged in mer- 
chandising in the firm of .\llen. Xoel & Company: he .soon Iwught Allen out. 
Fnr twelve year> lie licld pnlj'ic offices, first a> deinity sheriff, then county 



l66 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

assessor, sheriff three years, and in 1850 was elected to the Legislature. At 
that date he bought the Rockville House, on the northeast corner of the 
Square, where later the Rice block was erected. 

In 1841 J. M. Nichols settled in Rockville and embarked in the tinning 
business, his being the second establishment of the kind in town, the first tin 
shop being that of Diocletian Cox, who had left before ]\Ir. Nichols went into 
business. At a little later period came he who was later known as Gen. 
George K. Steele. He did a large business and was prominent as banker, 
politician and railroad promoter. Among the most universally admired and 
excellent business men that early Rockville ever had was Isaac Jarvis Silli- 
man, a New Englander, who also was in the milling business, an account of 
which is given elsewhere in this work. 

Just at the close of the Ci\il war, a woolen factory was put in operation 
by Sill & McEwen, at least they started it, when one of the firm died, after 
which Nichols & Thompson completed it and operated it until about 1875, 
when it ceased to longer pay interest on the investment. The machinery was 
mostly sold and the factory abandoned. The factory was a three-story build- 
ing, forty by eighty feet in size. The ]M-operty cost twenty-eight thousand 
dollars. 

In i8jy, Samuel X. Baker, from Kentucky, settled on the Leatherwood 
and started a pottery, in which he made red-ware till 1S33, then removed to 
Rockville and built another pottery, which he operated until his death in 
i860. It was continued by his sons, James H., Samuel and Charles, till 1873, 
when the last mentioned started one in the northeast part of Rockville, where 
for several years he turned out twenty-four kilns of ware each year, averag- 
ing upwards of forty thousand gallons of earthenware. In 1880 the old one 
was producing about twenty-four thousand gallons per year. Stoneware, 
such as crocks, jugs, vases and flower pots, w'ere there made in large quan- 
tities. 

The town has always been noted for its excellent saw-mills and, while 
the forests are fast disappearing from Indiana, there are still many fine trees 
being annually converted into lumber at the mills in Rockville. The business 
interests in Rockvillle, a third of a century ago, included these : Four gen- 
eral stores, one clothing house, three groceries, two boot and shoe stores, one 
harness shop, one pro\'ision store, three furniture stores, and undertakers 
shops, two jewelry stores, three agricultural and hardware stores, three grain 
warehouses, two newspapers, two carriage ancf two wagon shops, two black- 
smith shops, two saw and planing mills, two hotels, two boarding houses, three 
,, millinery stores, two banks, one photograph gallery, four shoemakers, one 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 1 67 

repair and machine sliop, three saloons, two livery stables, two brick yards, 
one tile factory, two potteries, and several loan and insurance agencies. 

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES. 

From the pen of J. H. Beadle, who wrote on Rockville in 1880, we take 
the liberty to quote the following concerning early conHagrations in the town 
of Rockville : 

"Rockville has been terriblv scourged by fire. It had not suffered more 
than an average percentage of loss from this cause until 1871, when three 
conflagrations in that ^-ear burned out three sides of the public square. The 
first occurred on the night of July 4th, on the south side. The buildings were 
all wooden and, with the exception of the one on the southeast corner, rook- 
eries : but to some the loss was not less severe on this account, though the 
aggregate was inconsiderable, when compared with the later fires, especially 
the one on the north side. This last took place on the night of September 
17th. Starting in the old hotel on the northeast corner, it swept everything 
clean to the National Bank. Here was concentrated a greater part of the 
business and of course here was the greatest loss. Several of the best brick 
buildings in the town were in this row. The estimated loss, after the insur- 
ance was paid, was about sixty thousand dollars. The east side was con- 
sumed on the night of December 8th, seven brick front rooms being destroxed, 
besides less valuable property. The old hotel on the west side, where the new 
one is now building, was burned at another time. The south side fire was 
thought to have been accidentally caused by a crowd of drunken men ; Init 
the others w-ere supposed to have been incendiary. 

"The town has ne\ er had an adeijuate fire a])paratus. It has a small engine 
which is more effective in relaxing \igilance and promoting fancied security 
than otherwise. So far as the api>earance of the town is concerned, these fires 
have been an advantage; they made room for large, tasteful edifices which 
now cover the ground." 

The last great fire was that of the night, of November 16, 1906, when 
the National Bank block burned, causing a loss of thirty thou.sand dollars. 
The Terra Haute and Bloomingdale fire companies came to the rescue, but 
too late to sa\e the property. This building had the old National Hal! on one 
of its floors and was a fine auditorium. Dr. Goss lost his modern ph\sician 
and surgeon's oftice in this block and he lost expensive apparatus, with little 
insurance on same. The cit\- now has a better protection against fires than it 
has ever before had. 



l68 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

The old opera house in Rockville was dedicated June 9, 1883. by John 
E. Owens. It was built b)- the Rockville Opera House Company, at a cost 
of thirty-five thousand dollars, and seated eight hundred people. 

In the autumn of 1912 the new and strictly modern opera house was 
opened to the play-loving public. It was built by a stock company at a cost 
of twenty thousand dollars and easily seats eight hundred presons. The 
architect was W. H. Floyd, Terre Haute : builder, Edgar Jerome, Rockville. 
The stockholders are F. H. Nichols, president: Frank M. Adams, vice-presi- 
dent ; Allen T. Brockway, treasurer ; George L. Laney, secretary ; Howard 
Maxwell, John S. IMcFadden, Sidwell Alden, S. F. Max Puett, J. M. Johns 
and D. M. Carlisle. The committee on building was Howard Maxwell, D. M. 
Carlisle and J. M. Johns. 

MUNICIPAL HISTORY. 

For thirty years Rockville was an unincorporated place, but in July. 
1854, voted to incorporate, and the first election of officers resulted as follows : 
Board. Harvey L. Hoss, D. W. Stary, E. S. Terry, Isaac J. Silliman, James 
H. Sanderson ; clerk, F. W. Dinwiddle. 

The records are not in suitable condition to give lists complete. The 
1912 officers are: Board, H. E. Marks, president: William F. Graham, Will- 
iam B. Thompson, E. J. Coleman, B. J. Hunnicutt : clerk, William T. Patton : 
treasurer, F. H. Nichols: marshal. Joseph Boardman. 

THE POSTOFFICE 

The postoffice at Rockville is a third-class office. The present postmas- 
ter, J. H. Spencer, was commissioned March i, 1906, and succeeded I. L. 
Wimmer, who had served one temi. while the present incumbent is now 
serving on his second tenn. During his administration the office has handled 
over twelve hundred pieces of registered mail matter and not a single loss in 
the entire time. There are now seven rural free deliveries going out from 
this office. The last two years, ending March 30, 191 2, the business of this 
office has been in excess of seven thousand dollars each year. Two assistants 
and the postmaster do the work of the office. The postal savings department 
of the Rockville office was instituted November 2, 191 1, and has not thus 
far proved to be a large depository, but is increasing some. \Vhile its safety 
is acknowledged, the low rate of interest ]5revents man)- from depositing. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. ' I69 

WATER WORKS AND LIGHTING PLANT. 

After several years of discussion, and with some opposition, an election 
was called to determine whether Rockville should be supplied with a system 
of water works that would make her on an equal footing with other towns. 
Finally, on May i, 1893, such an election was held and the result was that 
there were found two hundred and eighty-three voting for the measure as 
against one hundred and fourteen opposition votes. September 5, 1894. a 
contract was let to sink, within the town limits, a six-inch well of the tubular 
type. In all, three such wells were sunk, but a sufficient flow of water was not 
found and the plan was abandoned and one was put down in the Little Rac- 
coon bottoms, on the farm belonging to S. C. Puett, where a heavy flow of 
pure water was obtained at the depth of twenty-five feet. July 31, 1893, '^'''^ 
town board advertised for plans and specifications to erect water works, and~ 
on September 12, 1895, nine bids were opened for the construction of the 
plant. None of these bids was accepted, however. Public opinion was un- 
settled. The next move was to construct water works and light plant, com- 
bined, and this plan was carried into effect in August, 1903. There had been 
an electric lighting plant owned by private capital in Rockville for several 
years and this the town of Rockville purchased and combined the water 
■works and electric light plant in one. since which both have given good and 
profitable service to the citizens and tax])ayers. They now have forty-nine 
hydrants, situated at various points in the town : a high stand-pipe and tower 
which throws water to a good height by direct pressure of the pumps. Im- 
proN'ements at the plant and about tlie town'are l>eing made the ])resent year. 

A volunteer fire company is organized and with the water works system, 
aided by a chemical engine and hook and ladder appliance, the present fire 
chief, L. W. Brown, is enabled to do good service at fires. The water supply, 
at present, is derived from deep wells on the Raccoon bottoms, two and a half 
miles east from the town. There is also a well at the plant in town, which 
can be relied ujjon in case of fires. The water at the big well, east of town, 
is affording an abundance of the purest water. 

CEMETERY AT ROCKVILLE. 

The cemetery at Rockville has been in use since 1824. Up to 1883 there 
had been buried within this sacred enclosure over two thousand persons. The 
land consisted of a six-acre tract. The first to be buried there was a child of 
Pioneer Ilann: she was buried on her father's own land, a part of his estate. 



170 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and of which he soon gave the public an acre, including the spot where the 
dear one was interred, thus making a start towards the present cemetery. 
The grounds are just to the southeast of the city proper. Up to 1826 there 
had been only five burials there, in the two years of use. No record is found 
back of 1839. John Alexander commenced his duties as sexton of this ceme- 
tery in 1843 ^"d up to 1883 nine hundred graves had been dug by him. There 
the strong man and the frail woman, the infant and the aged, had l^een put 
beneath the sod. Civilian and soldier had there been buried, including many 
of the Civil war soldiers, and one continental soldier — Jesse Duncan — who 
fought at Guilford Court House, whose remains lay on the east end of lot 
No. 147. Many beautiful family monuments and memorial piles now grace 
this cemetery, which is kept in fine condition. With the return of each spring 
time, and Memorial Day, the graves are visited and the green carpeting 
moistened by the tear-drops of the friends of those who lie there, sleeping their 
last sleep. Of recent years many improvements have been made on these lots 
and today the passerby recognizes a Christian communit}'. for no other so 
carefully watches the resting places of their departed dead. 

There have been at least three additions made to this "Silent City," l)ut 
in all only about eleven acres are platted, and but about eight of this has been 
occupied with graves. 

INDUSTRIES OF ROCK\ILLE. 

Milling is one of the earliest industries in almost any community, and 
here in Rockville the flouring mill industry was first established in 1853-4, by 
a New Englander named Isaac Jarvis Silliman, who was a pioneer miller at 
Bridgton and Armiesburg, where he was a partner of General Patterson, both 
in milling, merchandising and distilling. About the date last mentioned, he 
came to Rockville and entered into a partnership with O. J. Innis and J. M. 
Nichols. In a few years Innis retired, and Silliman and Nichols purchased 
the mill. Early in i860, William M. Thompson and James H. McEwen 
bought Silliman's interest in both mill and store property. A few years later 
Silliman died, greatly regretted by the community, at the age of seventy or 
more. In 1864 the mill was sold to Eiglehart and Brothers, of Evansville, 
and finally went into the hands of the national bank here, and it was burned 
in 1884. After this the citizens were greatly in need of such an industrv as a 
good flouring mill, and then commenced the remarkable history and career, 
in Rockville, of the Rohm family, three generations of which have been con- 
nected iwith flour-making in this section of Indiana. In April, 1893, E. H., 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. I7I 

Cahin and George W. Rolini, sons of Jacob Rolini, who had coninienccd mill- 
ing at tlie age of ten years for his father, began the construction of a modern 
fiour mill at Rockville, on the site of the old woolen factory, where plenty 
of good water and other conveniences were at hand. — the site of the present 
roller mills, — and made their first flour on New ^'ear's day. iS(j4. It is a 
brick structure, with metal roof, and is grouped with the power house, ware- 
house and roomy ofifice. As far back as 1896 this mill employed eight men. 
It is still running at full capacity and is known far and near for its superior 
grades of flour. 

The only other important industries in Rockville are its two quite ex- 
tensive lumber mills and wood-working machinery, the one being the exten- 
sive works of the Ferguson Lumber Company, the other, Graham & Com- 
pany, both of which firms do a large hard-lumber milling Inisiness. 

It may be added that the town no\v has five garages in successful opera- 
tion, and that many automobiles are sold and used in Parke county. 

ADVENT OF THE COLORED PEOPLE. 

According to the 1870 United States census, ^Vdams township had sev- 
enty-four colored population, of which fifty-five resided in the town of Rock- 
ville. The year after the Civil war closed-^i8r)6 — there was only one colored 
person in the town, Alexaniler Harper, a hatter by trade; he died and his 
family went away. Patrick Thomas arrived that year and was soon follow ed 
by Alexander Black. In 1870 Abram Gaston brought his family to Rock- 
ville from North Carolina; he accompanied Samuel Kirkman. who had l)een 
back on a visit ; this was the first family from that state. In the colonv that 
emigrated from that state in 1872 were Joseph Kirkman. Jesse Kirkman, 
Anthony Brower, Jesse Craven and Ransom Coble. By 1880 colored people 
had come in from the Carolinas, Virginia and Tennessee till they numbered 
fully two hundred, many of whom became excellent citizens and not a few 
became well-to-do persons, who seemed to prize their liberty and rights, and 
they and their children have kept up this record of good citizenship until this 
time. They support a Methodist and a Baptist church and a public school. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



ADAMS TOWNSHIP. 



Adams township, in which the seat of justice is located, has, in common 
Avith others of Parke county, no pubHc record showing the facts connected 
with its organization and settlement, owing to the fact that the records made 
b)' the early county officials were all burned in the fire of November, 1833. 
Except for the first actual settler, there is abundant proof about who the first 
settlers were. It was contended at the date of the old history', by Walker 
Adams, that his father, James Adams, made a settlement in 1816, on the 
Little Raccoon in what is now known as Adams township. He further con- 
tended that the township derived its name from his father, all of which looks 
plausible, though possibly he has fixed the date of coming a little too early. 
However that may be, it is usually granted that Adams was first to locate in 
this township, and that it was before 1818. There is no account of any others 
coming in prior to 1821, to make permanent homes for themselves. In 181 7 
a colony of several families emigrated from Butler county, Ohio, and settled 
on the Big Raccoon, in what came to be known as the Bell Settlement, near 
Bridgton. Among those were Abel Bell. Tobias Miller, Solomon Simmons, 
the Adams and Webster families. Isaac McCoy, the celebrated Indian mis- 
sionary, had his home in the same region. A few years later Aaron Hand, 
also from Ohio, joined this colony. In the spring of 182 1 Solomon Simmons 
moved and located, a mile southwest of Rockville. In the autunm of the 
same year Aaron Hand came up from the Bell settlement and located on the 
present site of Rockville. Greenberry Ward and his father, James Ward, 
made a tour of exploration and in their travels found Cornelius Sunderland, 
living on what in later years was known as the' Beadle farm. In 1822 came 
James McGinnis, settling a mile and a half south of Rockville. Cornelius 
Sunderland arrived the same year. Andrew Ray came to Rock\i;ie that 
year, early in the spring, but was here the autumn before and located his 
lands. At that date land hunters were numerous and there was much rivalry 
to see who should obtain choice bottom tracts of bottom lands. A party con- 
sisting of James Glass, John Miller, Jacob Miller and Thomas Wolverton, 
who were much disheartened at not being able to secure such lands as above 
mentioned, were on their way to Montgomery county to search for a better 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 1 73 

choice uf lands, ulicn tliey were happily directed by a Kentuckian to the ''di- 
vide between the two Raccoons." Upon examination, the country pleased 
them and they decided to locate there, and were joined by Tobjas Miller, 
Reuben Webster, Lawrence Cox and a few more. So general was the sat- 
isfaction at finding their desires, that James Kelsey named the settlement 
"New Discovery," and it is still spoken of as such, and churches and schools 
have been named for it. A wonderful rush soon pushed forward for this 
portion of the county. The land office was soon moved from Terre Haute to 
Crawfordsville, and the route was dotted all the way with newcomers' places, 
and smoke from many cabins greeted the eye. For the choice of land men 
took great chances at swimming streams and they rode day and night, through 
drenching rains and other fierce storms, often exhausting and sometimes kill- 
ing the horses which bore them. Next was heard the sound of the settler's 
axe and saw, in clearing up the forest and making farms. The crashing of 
falling beech, walnut and sugar trees might ha\e been heard on every hand, 
preparatory to the log-heap and crackling fires. 

The spring and summer of 1822 were exceedingly wet, and the new- 
comers were sad and disheartened with water all around them, and mud, mud, 
mud at their feet. They hauled their grain from Fort Harrison, but found 
other supplies at Roseville. Toward the close of the summer the rain clouds 
passed by and sunny weather was present to greet them. Here might have 
been seen men and women with children at their knees, far distant from their 
former homes and out of reach of every civilized comfort, spreading their 
beds and boards in a trackless wilderness, infested with venomous reptiles 
and wild beasts, voluntarily seeking rough toil, accepting course food, and 
facing all but famine, yet yielding to nothing but protracted and blighting ilis- 
ease and sometimes death. Their experiences form a story of trials, priva- 
tions and sufferings, and a picture of heroism and triumph, which can never 
be accurately depicted by the pen. 

The Rockzillc Trihinic at one time published the following incident that 
may throw some light upon this state of affairs : 

"Nancy, wife of Cornelius Sunderland, had been to her father, Nathan- 
iel Page's one afternoon late in the autumn of 182 1 or '22, to borrow a reel. 
The houses were not more than half a mile apart and as she was returning 
she strolled along, gathering nuts, buried in the leaves on the ground, failing 
to note the direction, and strangely oblivious of everything around her. until 
her attention was arrested by a sudden darkening of the sky and falling of 
snow flakes. On looking up she discovered that she had missed her wav, 
but, correcting her course, pressed forward with all haste, in the supposed 



174 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

direction of her hume. She had not proceeded far before she was filled with 
alarm at finding herself in a dense forest, and totally ignorant of her where- 
abouts. The snow was falling fast. The deep gloom and grand silence of 
the woods added to her painful feelings and situation and her fears grew 
almost frantic, when she noticed the dog that had accompanied her had dis- 
appeared. She searched wildly about for the path, shouting eveiy few steps, 
and then pausing for an answer, but hearing no sound but the beating of her 
own heart. On and on she wandered without a glimpse of a single object 
she knew to relieve her terrified thoughts. Xight came on and stiil she 
groped about. The boughs were now bending beneath the weight of falling 
snow. At length, finding that her traveling and calling were only a vain 
waste of strength, and wet, cold, faint and overwhelmed with despair, she took 
shelter in a hollow tree, where she passed the night. As soon as daylight 
came she renewed her fruitless endeavor to find a habitation or to attract at- 
tention by her cries. As hour by hour went by she continued her wanderings 
till late in the afternoon, when her strength was gone and, benumbed with 
cold, she sat down to await help or die, 

"When e\ening came it was known that she was lost. Her husband, 
greatlv distressed, spread the alarm and the settlers north of the Big Rac- 
coon turned out in a general search. By the middle of the next day all the 
west part of the county was aroused and had joined the relief party. About 
sunset John Sunderland, while hunting along the bluffs of Raccoon, heard a 
faint cry, so faint that he could not ascertain the direction, till several times 
repeated in answ'er to his shout. Following the sound, he came upon a human 
being leaning against a tree, whom he confidently believed to be a squaw. He 
supposed she had been abandoned or lost by her tribe, nor was it till he drew 
near and actually touched her, that he recognized his sister-in-law ! Thirt\' 
hours of toil and suffering had completely transformed her : her dress was in 
rags, her voice was almost gone, and she was so chilled that she could not 
climb upon a log, and he had to lift her to a horse and then hold her as he 
would a child. But the constitution of a pioneer woman soon brought health 
and she survived to a good age, to be the mother of a large family of vigorous 
sons and handsome daughters. And it is recorded that, womanlike, she had 
held onto the borrowed reel, through all her wanderings." 

Other early settlers outside of Rockville, not already named, w ere : Jos- 
eph Wilkinson, who came from Warren county, Ohio, in 1825, and located 
in New Discovery; James Ward and son Greenberry, in 1826: Nathaniel 
Page, about the same time. By about 1830 nearly all the land, at least all of 
the choice tracts, had been taken up, and settlements were evenly distributed. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 1/5 

It is related that it was tlitn uncommon to find a stretch of countrj- where 
there was not a house at least within two miles of another. The Indians had 
nearly all departed. From 1825 to 1831 there were numerous parts of tribes 
of the Delawares and Pottawatomies left behind the main tribes of these 
Indians. The settlement at Rockville is mentioned in the town oi' city his- 
tory of that place, hence is omitted here. Aside from the interests at Rock- 
ville, the township is an agricultural section, noAv highly developed and full 
of beautiful farm homes and a happy, intelligent and prosperous peo[)le. A 
table elsewhere gives the population of this and every other township within 
Parke count\-. The Educational chapter treats of the early and present 
schools, while the chapter devoted to churches gives much concerning the 
various branches of religious work in Adams township. The wagon roads 
leading into Rockvillfe are numerous and all well graveled at this date, and 
the number of carriages and automobiles owned by the farmers is indeed 
wonderful, while the rural free delivery of mail and the parcel post make a 
net-work of the township. These all present a great contrast to the days of 
1822, when the first stakes were stuck b}' the hands of a few pioneers. The 
valuation of property, real and personal, in .\dams township in 1912 is 
$1,250,500, outside the city of Rock\ille. Including the city, the valuation, 
as per recent assessed list, is $2,500,000. The 19 10 United States census 
gave Adams township (outside town of Rockville) a population of T.417. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



FLORIDA TOWNSHIP. 



Florida is the extreme southwestern civil sub-division of Parke county. 
It is bounded on the west by the Wabash river ; on the north by Wabash and 
Adams township ; on the east by Raccoon township and on the south by Vigo 
county, Indiana. The old canal runs through its western borders. Its towns 
and hamlets are Coxville, Rosedale, Jessup, Lyford, Hudnut, Numa, and 
numerous postoflices, some established many years since, but abolished upon 
the introduction of the modern rural route system. Its area covers about 
forty-eight square miles. Its population in 1880 was 1,944. while at present 
(1912) it contains about 3,170 people. In 1880 its assessed valuation was 
$689,364, in real estate and personal amounting to $175,662, as against a 
total in 1912 of $1,324,155. Its territory is watered by Little and Big Rac- 
coon ri\ers. Along these streams, which are really large creeks, and along 
the Wabash river are the bottoms, stretching more than a mile in rich level 
lands, and where some of the finest crops of wheat and corn are produced 
annually. Back of these valleys are the blufYs showing their rocky heads, but 
soon wear down to a level country again. These flats formed by the raising 
of the bluffs are almost level, and at some remote period, possibly formed an 
island. East of Rosedale, the country forms a flat sandy section, resembling 
the prairies of Illinois somewhat. The north part of Florida township is 
very rough and broken, but most of its land has been utilized by energetic 
farmers and stockmen. 

The township was named, according to Jesse R. Youmans, at its or- 
ganization in the fall of 1821, from David Loree, a pioneer who had emi- 
grated from such a named township in New York state. The first settlers 
in this township are to he classed among the first pioneers within Parke 
county. Among such sturdy, self-sacrificing characters may be recalled John 
M. Doty, whose axe was among the very first to be heard ringing through 
the forests of the county. He settled east of Rosedale, where he remained 
till overtaken by death. Another was Henry, a family well known in Parke 
county, through their descendants, to this day. It is claimed that this family 
settled east of Rosedale about 1816, and the place where they first set stakes. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 177 

almost a century ago, is still known as Henn-'s Prairie. .Mr. Henry had fonr 
sons, John, William, Moses and Isaac. William died in Florida townshi]) in 
1848; Moses was killed while en route to New Orleans with a flat-boat loaded 
w'ith pork. The forks of the creek were settled by John .\dams and James 
and Moses Barnes, from Kentucky. William Evans came to Florida town- 
ship about 1820. One of the first settlers in Parke county was Joseph Wal- 
ker, who came in 1816, locating on the bluff in the southwestern part of this 
township. This was ever afterwards styled Walker's Bluff. He first pre- 
empted a quarter section, where he built a log cabin, sixteen by eighteen feet, 
and there set out the first orchard ever planted in the township. He also 
built the first brick house in the town. A Mr. Kispert later owned and occu- 
pied this place. In 1819 Chauncey Rose settled in the township, which also 
was the date of the building of the Raccoon Mills on the stream where Rose- 
ville was afterward built. Rose came to the country a poor man. and when 
he bought his land bought it simply for farming ])urposes, little dreaming 
that he was to sell corner lots from the tract he had selected. Other early 
settlers were Messrs. Robbins and Brooks, who were early factors at Rose- 
ville and carried on merchandising at that point many years. In 1820 Will- 
iam Smith built his log cabin three-quarters of a mile to the south of Rose- 
dale, on Henry's Prairie, and lived there until 1835, when he erected a 
double-log cabin where Rosedale was later situated. He who was usually 
styled "Major," really James Smith, came in 1820, and has always been 
recognized as the first settlers on the bluff north of Jude Walker's. He finished 
a cabin eighteen by twenty feet, and became the owner nf nearly a section of 
land. It was there that David D. Loree made his home in the spring of 1820. 
He came from New York, from which state he started on a flat boat, accom- 
panied by his brother's wife and her daughter, Minerva (later Mrs. Brown). 
Capt. Daniel Stringham, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. and Jonathan 
Rockwell settled on what was known as ^'ankee street at about the same 
date. Other early settlers were John and Syhester Sibley, Zebina Ho\ey, the 
celebrated pioneer carpenter of this counts', and Hectnr Smith. .\n early 
blacksmith was Mr. Drure, in 1823 on Walker's land. Most of the follow- 
ing men were in Florida prior to 1830: Joseph Cahill, David Hix, Samuel 
House, John Crabb, Seba H. Case, Peter Pence, Z. Fenton, Abraham Laney, 
the Rukes, John Steward, the Boatmans, Benjamin Dailey, George Baugh, 
James Laney, the Kilburns, John Cottrell, James Burson, Cephas Fisher. 

The township is now well developed and made u}) of wealthy and fair- 
circumstanced farmers. Some of the old settlers have sons and daughters 
(12) 



178 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Still residents of the township where their forefathers first settled, while a 
majority of the people are of a later generation who came from other sec- 
tions of this and other counties. The schools and churches are all mentioned 
in the general chapters of this work, hence are not further noted in this con- 
nection. It may be stated in passing, that the pioneer Chauncey Rose very 
greatly resembled Daniel Webster. He was a man of character, enterprise 
and great public promoter of good in Parke county. 

VILLAGES OF THE TOWNSHIP. 

Florida has several small towns and hamlets, including the following: 
Roseville, the first village in the county, received its name from Chauncey 
Rose, its first settler, who entered the land upon which it stands in 181 9, and 
soon commenced the building of a grist mill on the banks of Raccoon creek, 
W'hich was for many years known far and near as the Raccoon Mills. A saw- 
mill w'as soon completed a short distance above the flouring mill. He also 
erected a cabin or two, for himself and those who worked for him, these 
being the first erected in the village. The mill soon grew to Ise one of great 
promise and drew customers from a radius of more than twent\-five miles. 
After many years the mill did not longer produce sufficient flour for the in- 
creasing demand, when another was constructed, being later owned and 
ojicrated by Daniel Kiblar. The first store was run by Moses RobJjins, which 
was opened about the same date as the mill. At first the Indians were the 
best patrons, and Air. Robbins was by them called "Old Mohawk.'" They 
brought him large quantities of furs, for which he exchanged to them coffee, 
tobacco, "'mad water," etc. "Uncle Moses" kept in stock everything that was 
called for b\- both white and red men, and for manv ^•ears drove a successful 
trade and barter, but finally died a poor man. Judge Wedding conducted the 
second store in the village and operated it successfully till he removed to 
Terre Haute. In 1820 a tan-yard was established at Roseville, a quarter of a 
mile to the southeast of the mills. After two years it proved a failure and 
was abandoned. A distillery was also thought necessary and one was Iniill 
at the foot of the bluff, and there many a barrel of whisky was made and sold 
at twenty-five cents per gallon, and shipped to New Orleans on rude flat-boats. 
Another was situated a half mile south of the first one and was known as the 
McCamic still-house. In 1825 Robbins and Wedding were extensively en- 
gaged in pork packing and shipping to New Orleans. The first doctor was 
Dr. McDonald. In this village the first session of court was held in Parke 
county. The first grand jury sat here, and here the first indictment was 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 179 

found, while the first case was tried in the court which was in session, the 
same being a criminal case. John Grim, for stealing some furs from the 
Indians, was sentenced to ihe penitentiary for one }ear. Between 1825 and 
1835 Roseville was indeed a lively place. It soon began to decline, however, 
when Rockville opened up and, in addition to the county business, also flrew 
trade which had formerly gone to Roseville. 

Xuma, situated on section 26, range 9, was first settled by John Wilson, 
he having entered the land and laid out a part of his farm into town lots in 
1837. These lots were advertised in 1838. and a number sold at prices rang- 
ing from twelve to fifteen dollars. Nearly every person in the neighborhood 
purchased one of these town lots. Mr. Wilson erected the first frame house 
in the village, it being designed as a hotel. The stage which carried passen- 
gers along this road from Terre Haute to Lafayette stopped here to change 
horses and eat their meals. The hotel had a sign reading. "Entertainment for 
Man and Beast," and as it did not pay, Mr. Wilson tore it down and opened a 
general store. In 1840 Mr. Gleason erected a large frame building in the 
southern part of town, which was used both for hotel and store purposes. 
Gleason sold to Silas Bowers, after which it became a noted place. During 
the building of the canal quite a business was carried on at this point, but 
when that highwa}- was finished the interest in the town was forever gone. 

Clinton Lock received its name from the fact that the locks of the 
^Vabash & Erie canal were situated at this place, and also from its location 
immediately across the river from the cit\' of Clintmi. In June. iSSo. it 
was named Lyford. It is in section 14, range 9. and is a station now on the 
Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad. John Crabb entered the land on which 
the village is situated, and in 1833 •'•o''^ to his son, W. G. Crabb. He built a 
large warehouse there in 1850; it was on the bank of the canal and was forty 
by eighty feet, two stories high. After the days of the canal it was no longer 
needed for grain, and in 1862 it was sold to ^'ouman & Smith. A. & J. M. 
Lyons put in a stock of merchandise in 1851, amounting to seven thousand 
dollars. At the closing of the canal in 1865. everything in the town seemed 
to instantly decline and went to decay. It remained defunct until the autumn 
of 1873, when a switch from the Evansville & Terre Haute railroad was put 
in and run to the mines and warehouse of A.sa Fitch, who put in titty men 
and shipped fifteen cars of coal per day. .\ year later another mine was 
opened half a mile to the north. In 1875 ^^^^ railroad purchased tiiese 
switches and recognized Clinton Locks as a station point on their line. That 
year the store was opened and in 1877 a store was conducted by Lake & Com- 
pany. In i87(> the old warehouse was purchased by Hudmut & Company, 



l8o PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

who carried on a large business, it was in 1879 that the great stave factory 
was estabhshed at this point by Jesse Chitter, who there made about seventeen 
thousand staves each twenty- four hours. Later a cooper shop was added and 
thus the staves made up into casks and barrels. West of the village the first 
ferry was run from Florida to Clinton. It was owned by David Patton, and 
consisted of a simple flat-boat pushed across the Wabash by means of poles, 
the fare being thirty-seven and one-half cents per team. 

Rosedale received its name from pioneer Chauncey Rose, of Terre Haute. 
The ccjniing of the Terre Haute & Logansport railroad was the commence- 
ment of this village so well known now. It is situated in the southeastern 
portion of Florida township, and was platted by Ephraim Doty. The first 
house there, built by William Smith in 1835, was a large hewed log house 
twenty by forty feet. The whole community assisted in raising it, occupy- 
ing two full days. It still stood in 1890, the property of Jerry Beal. Notliing 
of inijiortance happened at this point until i860, when the railroad w'as fin- 
ished and a store was built; also a warehouse and mill, a drug store and scliool 
house. Frank Bell was the first postmaster, receiving his commission from 
President Lincoln in January, 186.2. The village had a population of one hun- 
dred in 1880, but of recent years it has improved greatly and the census of 
1912 gives it a population of 1,166. All branches of small town business are 
here represented by enterprising men. 

Jessup, another hamlet of this township, is situated in the northeastern 
part of the township, and derived its name from Mr. Jessup, an old resident 
of the community, and who at the completion of the "pumpkin vine railroad'' 
moved near where the village now stands. Pleasant ' Hawkins and Monroe 
Barnes, of Terre Haute, who shipped a barrel of pork addressed to "Jessup," 
really originated the name. The road was just finished and the conductor 
and train crew searched the list of towns, when they finally decided to put 
the goods otif for Jessup at that point, and they were making a point in his- 
tory of which they then knew not ! The place is not of great importance, 
yet, as a trading place, has been a good thing for the people of that section. 
It now has about seventy-five population. 

West Atherton is located in the extreme southwest corner of the town- 
ship, and is a small station point on the branch of the Chicago & Eastern Illi- 
nois railroad. 

Another town in this township is Cox\ille, a thri\ing hamlet of more 
modern type than many already named. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



GREENE TOWNSHIP. 



Greene township is congressional township No. i6 north, of range 6 west, 
and is situated on the east side of Parke county, with Putnam county on its 
east. Union townsliip to the south, Washington to the west and Howard 
township and Montgomery county on its north. The nortii and south 
branches of the Little Raccoon flow through its domain. Big Raccoon cuts 
ofif a small corner of this township on section 36, where Portland Alills is 
located. 

The surface is varied. Along the lianks of its streams it is much broken, 
rising in places to considerable hills and bluff land. The northeast quarter 
and south half are level and well adapted to agriculture. The soil is exceed- 
ingly fertile. Limestone abounds on the west side of the north l)ranch, and 
there are numerous outcroppings of coal, with indications of some iron. On 
the east side of this branch sandstone of three kinds, red, yellow and gray, is 
found in considerable quantities. It is well suited for building purposes. 
Fire rock, used for chimney and fire-place backs, is also found in this town- 
ship. The township was originally one dense forest, embracing many varie- 
ties of excellent timber. In the more swampy parts the underbrusli was so 
thick, together with pea-vine and nettles, that a road had to be blazed, that 
children might find their way to and from school at an early day. In 1880 
two-thirds of the township was under a fine state of cultivation. Much im- 
pro\ement has been done there in the passing of the last three decades. What 
is or was known as the Lindon thicket, or s\\ amp. and considered by the pio- 
neers as worthless land, is now the most \aluable in all the township. It ma\' 
be .said that Cireene is an average farming section of Parke count}-. Sufficient 
gra\'el is found to construct all the roads necessary in the territory. 

The Vandalia railroad traverses the northwest comer of the township, 
while the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton line passes through the entire north- 
ern part of it, with a station junction of both roads located at Cuion, a ham- 
let of fifty ])ersons. The i)resent assessed valuation of the township is 
$1,005,580. while its population in 1910 was placed by the United States cen- 



l82 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

sus as 1,009. Of the schools and churches other chapters in this work will 
treat at length. 

INDIAN DAYS AND WILD GAME. 

The early settlers saw the redmen at their doors asking for food and to 
trade with them for furs. Their principal camp was on the north of Little 
Raccoon, northeast of the railroad crossing at Guion. Here, for the last 
time in the histor\' of Greene township, thej- built their camp-fires, sang their 
songs of war and the chase, raised the war whoop, and bade adieu to the 
hunting grounds and graves of their fathers. They were at all times friendly 
to the settlers, yet it is said that one John Hathaway lost no' opportunity to 
dispatch an Indian. His father had been murdered and himself wounded by 
them, at a settlement on the Wabash, and he had sworn to wreak out 
vengeance in their blood. Indian relics found there are such as arrow heads, 
stone axes, and one iron tomahawk, once in possession of Ambrose Lambert, 
was a real curiosity; it had a curved blade about five inches long by two and 
a half in width; the pole served for a pipe; the handles to this combined instru- 
ment of war and peace are one. 

Once game' of every kind belonging to this latitude was found here in 
abundance. To see twenty-five deer in a drove was nothing uncommon, or 
turkeys to alight on the trees in numbers so great as to break down their 
branches. Squirrels, porcupines, mink and other small animals were as com- 
mon as small birds are now ; now, only a few squirrels remain. Among the 
early settlers Ambrose Lambert was the most successful hunter. Snakes of 
almost every kind were here in great numbers. East of Parkville, on the old 
Mathias Sappinfield farm, is what is known as "'snake den." Here, in a cliff 
of sand-stone, serpents of all kinds came in the fall to take up winter quarters. 
In the spring, men came and killed them in great numbers, as they basked in 
the sunshine on the rocks. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

In the autumn of 182 1, five families emigrated from Kentucky to this sec- 
tion of the county. These were Daniel Bruin, Sr., James Buchanan, David 
Todd, Abraham Durlin and Ambrose Lambert, accompanied by three young 
men, and they all settled on the west bank of the north branch of Little Rac- 
coon, south of the railroad crossing of today at Guion station. This without 
doubt was the first settlement in Greene township. They came not to hunt 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 183 

deer and dig "sang," but for the purpose of building for themselves permanent 
homes. These sturdy pioneers went to the task of felling the giant forest 
kings and erecting cabin homes in what was a vast wilderness. Abraham 
Durlin's cabin was the first readv for occupancy, but by the time the winter's 
blast had come on, all were comfortably housed for the long, dreary winter. 
But hard times were in store for this little band of pioneer settlers. They 
had little money or grain, and had to purchase the latter from neighbors at 
very high rates. Then the sound of the water mill had not yet been heard 
in the settlements, and the roads were little more than paths beaten by wild 
beasts and wild men in days long gone by. When they had corn, they re- 
duced it to hominy by means of the wooden mortar. This they made in two 
grades, coarse and fine. The former was eaten, with such other food as they 
could procure, for breakfast; the latter was made into a kind of coarse bread 
and served the remainder of the day. At all times, however, they were sup- 
plied with an abundance of wild game. This tided them over until a small 
patch of ground could be cleared, and a crop raised. Yet, it is written that 
nearly all lived to be old men and women. This colony was followed in the 
spring of 1822 by about fifty families, who settled near them in Union, Wash- 
ington, Greene and Howard townships. 

The second settlement was effected at Portland Mills, in 1823, on the line 
between Parke and Putnam counties, by Clemen Gare, Moses Hart, John 
Foster, Lemuel Norman and Samuel Steele, all of whom were from Ken- 
tucky. The immigration came rushing in mightily from Kentucky, Pennsyl- 
vania and the Carolinas, until about 1836. As early as 1830, the pioneers 
saw the rude round-log cabins, with their board roofs, mud chimneys and paper 
glass windows, all around them in every direction, but as the years wore away 
better abiding places were provided. 

MILLS OF THE TOWNSHIP. 

The greatest drawback in this settlement was the lack of mills. Rose- 
ville, twenty-five miles distant, was their nearest milling place. So bad were 
the roads and so high the unbridged streams at times that the families had to 
subsist on such meals as they were able to make by hand, such seasons lasting 
sometimes for weeks. Then a settler never went to mill alone, but the neigh- 
bors would all club together and go with their teams in' a company. Extra 
men went ahead, to hew out a road-way and assist the drivers in crossing 
streams and hills. The first mill in this township was erected at Portland 
Mills, in 1825, by Samuel Steele, father of the better known George Kirk- 



184 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Patrick Steele, and pioneer settler of that place. This was a combined grist- 
and saw-mill. It was many times rebuilt and finally, in 1880, was owned by 
J. E. Blake, being then looked upon as Parke county's best mill. The fiour 
made there at an early day was hand bolted. The pioneers and their children 
looked upon Mr. Steele as a great benefactor to his race, and today, were they 
living, would plead for his bust to adorn the Hall of Fame. 

The first, as well as only, still for making liquors in this township was 
built and run by Mathias Sappinfield, on his farm, one mile and a fourth east 
of Parkeville. 

The village of Parkeville was platted in township 16, range 6, October 
4, 1837, by Presley Doggett. Guion, another hamlet, already mentioned, 
was platted by Robert Bruin. January 7, 1882. in section 7 of the same town- 
ship and range. 



CHAPTER XX. 



HOWARD TOWNSHIP. 



Howard is the northern township in Parke count}-, in range b, township 
1 6. The east and south boundaries are each six miles in length, and the 
northern boundary is three miles long. Fountain county is to the north, 
Montgomery to the east, while on the south are situated (ireene and Wash- 
ington townships. The western boundary is very irregular; along this lie 
Sugar Creek and Penn townships, the latter bounding only a spur, one and a 
half miles wide, projecting from the southwest of Howard township. On the 
west and south of Howard township is some farming land as fine as the "King- 
dom of Parke" contains. Along the Sugar creek, which flows southwest 
through the township, the surface is very broken for some distance away from 
the banks. The east and south parts of the township are divided into large 
farms, well improved and now very valuable. In lieu of good farms the 
hilly country is rich in its deposits of mineral wealth, sandstone of several 
varieties, and limestone, fit for any sort of buildings. The soapstone beds in 
the township are twenty feet in thickness, between two strata of sandstone. 
Coal and iron ore crop out from the hills. Coal is found in a twelve-foot 
vein and of good quality. 

Up to 1855 Howard formed a part of Sugar Creek township. Before 
this several petitions were presented to the county commissioners by the cit- 
izens on the west side of the township for a division as it is now, but these 
petitions were denied them. In 1855, through the energies of Col. Casper 
Budd, the trustee of Sugar Creek, these petitions were finally granted. The 
territorv thus set ofif was organized into a civil township, called Howard, by 
Colonel Budd in honor of General Howard, then one of the county's most 
prominent men. 

In 1912, the assessed valuation, real and personal, of Howard township 
was $458,025. Its present population (T910 census) is 666. The schools 
and churches are treated under separate general chapters in this work. The 
first church organization was in 1833 and the first school was taught in 1830. 



1 86 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

EARLY SETTLERS. 

The original settlei^s in what is now called Howard township were Henry 
Litsey, Samuel Snook and James Long. The first located in 1822, on Sugar 
creek; the same year came to section 31 Samuel Snook and the third was 
James Long, on section 17. In 1823 the stream of immigration began .pour- 
ing in to Parke county from Kentucky and North Carolina, and by 1830 
there was little choice land for sale. Of these few settlers it may be stated 
that they were quiet, industrious people, who came not for office or specula- 
tion, but simply for the purpose of making for themselves and families homes. 
They made their own cloth from the flax they raised ; ate bread from the 
grain they had sown and threshed by hand, and in most cases had pounded it 
into meal and flour. But few bushels were left when the family and stock 
had been supplied. In 1830, Salmon Lusk bought and packed pork at the 
narrows of Sugar creek. This furnished the people with a little ready money 
in exchange for the little stock they produced. At the same time and place 
Prior Wright opened a small general store, which supplied them with the 
few actual necessities needed. With the surplus of a ten-acre farm, when 
pork was only one dollar and twenty-five cents per hundred, calico thirty-five 
cents per yard and salt five dollars per barrel, they could purchase but little. 
These pioneers were nearly all God-fearing people, and early organized church 
societies and held worship in log houses, where the God of their fathers was 
worshiped in a true and faithful manner. 

The great trouble encountered at that day was the securing of suitable 
breadstuff s. Prior to 1826 the nearest points at which they could obtain flour 
was at either Alamo or Roseville. In 1826 Salmon Lusk built a mill at the 
narrows of Sugar creek. The first mill built in the township was by Urial 
Clore; the second was built by Blumens White in 1853, ^"d later known as 
Scott's Mill. No serious epidemics have ever visited this township, and but 
few fatal accidents have occurred. The first person killed was James P. 
Robinson, who fell from bis wagon going down a hill near Rockville. The 
next was a lad, named William Montgomery, who was killed by the falling of 
a tree, and the third, Richard Watson, was crushed by the beam of a ciover 
huUer at Jacob C. Banta's. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

Jackson township named for old "Rough and Ready," Andrew Jackson, 
once President of the United States, is in the extreme southeast part of Parke 
county, w ith I'utnam county to its east. Union township north, Raccoon town- 
ship west and Clay county, Indiana, to its south. The "hills of Jackson" is 
a common expression in speaking of this portion of the county. Yet much 
good land is found within the limits of the township. The once giant forests 
have been cleared away and beautiful farms are now seen in many sections. 
The saw-mill here was early set to work and did its part in developing the 
country. The Big Raccoon cuts off the northwest corner, passing out in sec- 
tion 1 8. Along this creek lie the rich alluvial bottom lands, more valuable 
than any other kind of soil. The southeast is quite level, the balance being 
rough and hilly. The township abounds in numerous beautiful, never-failing 
springs of pure water that gladden the heart of both man and beast. Then there 
is a wonderful sulphur spring. The Indianapolis & St. Louis railroad passes 
across the southeast corner of this township, and one of its stations is the 
village of Lena. The old settlers were nearly all dead by 1880. The first 
settlements were effected in the Big Raccoon valley about 1820, at a time 
when the Indian roamed up and down that stream at will and was "lord of all 
he surveyed." About 1820 the first cabin in the valley was built where Mans- 
field now stands, being erected by Nelson and Hubbard, for James Kelsey, as 
a residence. In 1821 lands were entered by (ieorge Kirkpatrick and Nash 
Glidwell came from Ohio. Robert Glidwell surveyed through this section in 
181 6, and about 1823 entered land, his patent being signed by President 
Monroe. In 1821 Zopher and Emily Coleman sought a home in the wilds 
of Jackson township, settling north of the present site of Mansfield. They 
came in from South Carolina. That year a son was born to them and they 
named him Zopher, Jr., he being the second born in the township. George 
Hansel was born in Pennsylvania in 1795, and when the war of 1812 broke 
out he enlisted and aided in the defense of Fort Hamilton, also crossed the 
White river and helped to destroy the Indian town. Prepared by these ex- 
periences, he came to what is now Parke county in 1820, and entered land 



l88 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

in what is now the northwest part of Jackson township. He left for two 
years, and then returned to occupy the lands he had selected. He was much 
engaged in the early surveys of this county and constructed with his pen a 
map of Parke county, showing all the sun'eys. sections and streams. He 
ser\ed as justice of the peace many years, being the first elected in Jackson 
township. Jacob Cole later owned the farm he settled upon. As early as 
1825, William Bullington arrived. He came from Kentijcky to this state in 
1815. having moved from \"irginia to Kentucky in 1807. He said that there 
were not men enough in Parke county to raise a respectable cabin, and that 
many of them li\ed in their wagons and camped out. Bullington accompanied 
the Indians from ]\Iansfield to St. Louis when they were remo\ed from Ohio 
to the Osage country. The.se Indians, one thousand two hundred in num- 
ber, divided into three detachments, separated from each other a day's jour- 
ney, so that the hostility existing between dififerent tribes might be controlled. 
Bullington was twenty-three days with these Indians, when he returned. 
By trade he was a mason. In 1869 he removed to Union township and in 
1880 was still living, having reached his four score years. 

^-Jesse and "Amelia Moore both emigrated from South Carolina to Ken- 
tucky, and in 1826 to Jackson township in this county. They started Octo- 
ber 8th. and arrived here and leased twenty-seven acres in the northeast 
quarter of section 9, agreeing to build a house and set out an orchard, besides 
clearing up seventy acres. They had the privilege of using the whole quarter 
section. There were three families of them : the old folks. Jesse and Amelia : 
Naoma Pruett and husband, with family of two children ; Thomas Aloore and 
wife, with one child : and Joab, a single man. Jesse and his son Joab worked 
a half of the land, and Thomas and Stephen the other half. Thomas became 
the wealthiest man in Jackson township thirty years and more ago. 

In 1829 came Michael and Elizabeth Pruett, hailing from the famous 
Blue Grass district of Kentucky, bringing their son Calvin w ith them. They 
bought land not far from Mansfield. His sons, Calvin, Cyrenus and James, 
with other children, spent their lives in this township. When the public 
school law was voted on in this county. Calvin Pruett was the onlv man to 
vote for it in his township. The voters hooted at him and called him "too 
advanced for this county" and he stood and voted alone, but it was not long 
before he was gratified at being vindicated by the passage of the law, the base 
of our present fine school system. Cyrenus Pruett was many vears a town- 
ship officer, including that of assessor. James Pruett faced the enemv's 
shot and shell during the Civil war, and spent fifty-two days in Andersonville 
prison-pen. 



PARKE AND VKRMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 189 

By 1830 there were possibly twenty-five families within Jackson town- 
ship, as there were thirty-two votes cast at an election in that year. Among 
the pioneers were: Thomas W. Moore, Jcseph Coombs, John Coombs, 
Mahalan Stark, James Parsley, Hugh Vinzant. Presley Tyler, John ^'oung, 
Stephen Mannon, Samuel Johnson, Solomon Garrigus. In 1S37, however, 
the dull times struck in and not for a number of years was there much immi- 
gration to this county, after which, though, it was redoubled. From 1865 
to 1880 Jackson township made wonderful progress. The census nf 1880 
gave it as having 1,442 population. Its present population is 1,157. Its 
assessed valuation in 1912 is $496,520. 

VILLAGES OF JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

Lena and Mansfield are the only two villages within this township. The 
older of these is Mansfield. The log cabin of Mr. Kelsey must have Ix-en 
the beginning of what was then literally and truly a "man's-field," although 
in a very wild state. No finer mill-site was to be found anywhere in the 
country than at this point. The bed of the Big Raccoon creek is here a 
solid rock, affording an indestructible foundation for both a dam and a mill. 
A mill was constructed here about 1820, at least it must have been within a 
year or so either way from that date. Thomas Woolverton, who purchased 
land in Union township in 1820, helped to raise this mill, and he departed 
that vear for Virginia, where he remained five years, then found the mill in 
operation upon his return. So few white men were present in the neighbor- 
hood that Indians were pressed into assisting in the "raising" of this mill. It 
was thirty feet -square. Grists came here from a long distance. It was 
owned by several persons, including Kelsey & Dickson, Judge S. Gookins, of 
Terra Haute, and Gen. G. K. Steele, later falling into the hands of Jacob 
Rohm. It was torn down and another built on the old site in 1880. 

Mr. Gookins laid out the village of Mansfield. A postoffice was estab- 
lished in 1825, the postmaster being Mr. Dickson and the mail came from 
Terre Haute. In 1829, G. K. Steele opened a store here; he became owner 
of the mill property in 1838, continuing in both store and mill until 1846. 
The first physicians here were Drs. Noffringer and Britts ; then came Drs. 
Dailey and Farrow. The churches and schools of the \illagc and townsliip 
are treated under separate headings in other chapters. 

In the historj' of Mansfield, the ladies of the village and county around 
performed one deed that should live in history. Prior to the war, and dur- 
ing that struggle, Mansfield was harboring slavery within her midst in the 



igO PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

form of intemperance. Rising in their majesty, they made open war upon 
the. traffic, and with their own efforts rolled barrels of liquor into the streets 
and spilled the contents. Airs. Samuel Jcihn.ston was one of the leaders in 
this whisky insurrection. The ladies were victorious, and Mansfield drew 
full inspirations of pure air. Later, another saloon was started in a building 
standing on the bank of the creek. One night some citizens hitched oxen to 
it and drew it over into the creek, whose waters did the rest! This wound 
up liciuor selling, even in drug stores, for many a year. 

VILLAGE OF LENA. 

Lena, in the southeastern portion of Jackson township, was platted on 
section 35, in township 14, range 6, by Robert King in 1870. It sprung up 
as a station point along the Indianapolis & St. Louis railroad, and soon be- 
came a good shipping point for the immense quantities of lumber and staves 
cut from the surrounding forests. Adjoining the place on the south is Alarys- 
^■ille, in Clay county, but both are now really one town. J. B. Cochran, sand- 
wiched between the two places, is credited as having been the oMest resident 
in either place. He was the first merchant and postmaster, also first railroad 
agent and express agent. The first blacksmith was Thornton Wilson; Will- 
iam Girton the first shoemaker; Hasty & Sons were the first millers. Lena 
today has a population of about three hundred, and is a lively local trading 
point in the county. Dr. J. H. Ranch, of Chicago, a wealthy landowner and 
coal operator, passed several years at Lena, erected many buildings, improved 
the streets, graded roads, made brick, mined coal, and in many other ways 
was a promoter of the public good of the new village. A Masonic lodge was 
formed there in 1874. 

While Jackson township had many disadvantages at an early day, and 
was accounted rather slow-growing for many decades, it has finally come to 
rank among the sister sub-divisions of Parke county, as being almost equal 
in prosperity to any other. * 



CHAPTER XXII. 



LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 



Liberty is the northwestern township in Parke county. The W'abasii 
river washes its western borders, Fountain county is on its north, while south 
and east its boundaries are Resene and Star Creek townships. Its streams 
are Coal, Mill and Rush creeks, with their numerous tributaries, many of 
which, at an early day, furnished an abundance of waterpower for milling 
pur])oses. The township is one of the most thickly settled in the county, it 
having had a population, in 1880, of 1.774. The last enumeration (1910) 
gave it as 1,513. The 1880 assessed valuation was $449,202 in real estate, 
while its personal property amounted as per assessed valuation to $168,385, 
as against a total valuation of $812,110 in 1912. Some of the finest grazing 
land in Parke county was reported by writers a third of a century ago. The 
bottom lands in the western part of the township are not excelled in all Indiana 
for the fertility of the soil and the annual production of immense crops of 
corn. Originally. Liberty township was composed of thirty-nine full and six 
fractional sections, but in the seventies sections 35 and 36 and the south halves 
of 25 and 26 were cut off to form a part of Penn township. 

PIONEER SETTLERS. 

The first settlers in Liberty township were located in the northwest 
portion, and came in about 1821-1822, when Abe Timberman, William and 
Edward Brockway and Samuel Arnot came up the Wabash and pitched their 
tents in the vast, untried wilderness, while in 1825 David Shirk arrived, who, 
in addition to hewing out a farm from the forest, preached the gospel to the 
few settlers over that portion of Parke county, he being of the Baptist denom- 
ination. Eariy that year came also John Richmond and he was soon fol- 
lowed by the Burtons, who entered land on which Howard now stands. The 
settlers of 1823 included Jacob Bowshcr and family, who located on Sugar 
creek, in section 25, at which time the Indians still occupied this part of the 
country, a village of one hundred and fifty wigwams standing on the land he 
chose. The chief of this band was John Cornstalk. They were, however, 
at this date, very friendly with the white settlers, ne\er displeasing them 



192 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

further than the occasional stealing of a calf or pig. While off on a hunting 
expedition, a young man named Steever set fire to and burned down their 
village. Upon their return the tribe of Indians went to putting on war paint, 
and asked Mr. Bowsher to tell them who had committed the deed, saying that 
in case he told them no harm would come to anyone but the guilty party. So, 
in defense of his neighbors and himself, he was compelled to tell the Indians 
who it was, but took care to send a boy to notify the Steever fellow of his 
action, so that he might make good his escape, which he did, after the Indians 
had chased him sixty or seventy miles. Soon after that these Indians were 
removed to their reservation, and after that only small parties were ever again 
seen in the township. Near this Indian \illage was a burying-ground, in 
which more than a hundred graves were found by the first white settlers. 
One, better cared for than the others, was believed to be that of a chief, and 
after the final removal of the Indians it was opened by Joseph Bowsher and 
other boys, who found a string of gold beads, a butcher knife and other relics. 

In 1824 came Lawson Hoffman, settling in the southern part, when nine- 
teen years of age. Joseph Thompson came four years later and at same time 
came Isaac Harvey. The first to effect settlement in what is known as the 
Rusli Creek settlement, which was about 1830, was James Marks, who came 
from Kentucky and purchased a quarter section, where later his son George 
resided. After paying for his land at the land office, he had twelve and a half 
cents to begin the world on. John Osborn arrived the same year, and later 
came Isaac Weaver: then James Woody, who came in 1S33, followed in 
1834 by George Towell and George Marris, while Thomas, Jonathan, Lot 
and David Lindley arrived in 1832. 

A tan yard was put in operation in 1836 by Harlan Harvey, of W'arren 
county, Ohio, and was run by him and his partner, George Madden, who 
arrived in 1837, for sixteen years. In 1840 Mr. Madden laid out a nursery, 
which furnished fruit trees and ornamental shrubs for a wide scope of 
country. A greater part of these settlers were of the Friends religious faith 
and in 1832 a congregation was formed by them, by Isaac Hobson, David and 
Lot Lindley, and a few more. This, with other churches and schools, will be 
mentioned at length in chapters on these subjects. The first school house was 
built in 1830, and its first teacher was Isaac Hobson. who also kept a small 
store at his house on Rush creek. Another store was owned by a stock com- 
pany, situated west of Rush Creek meeting house, in which W. Hadley ofti- 
ciated as a clerk. At that time prices ranged as follows : Calico fifty cents 
a yard; coffee, fifty cents a pound; salt, five dollars per barrel, while wages 
ran from twenty-five to forty cents a day for labor, and in harvest, with the 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. T93 

reaping-hook, thirty-seven and one-half cents per day was paid. .\c:ir the 
iiioutii of Sugar creek was the mill to which this settlement liad lo look lor 
its milling advantages. That was operated by John Beard, an old man, who 
had arrived in the county at a very early day. .\ .saw-mill, propelled by water 
power, was erected on Rush creek by a Mr. Reid, in 1826. At the same time 
there was a small corn cracker in the northwest part of the township, and a 
water mill in the extreme southern part. The first steam saw-mill was built 
in uS4<S, on section 16, by O. I'. Davis, who with his partner, James Woody, 
conducted the mill many years and were successful in their operations and 
of great service to the pioneers. 

About a mile east of the village of Howard is a graveyard, in which 
many of the early settlers are buried. It is situated on a large mound in 
Mill creek bottoms, and is supposed by many to have been the work of mound- 
builders. Such, however, is a mistake, as geologists have determined that it 
is but a natural drift of deposit made in the period when such formations 
w ere made in this section of America. It had been used as a burial place by 
the Intlians, doubtless for centuries, as in digging graves numerous skeletons 
and detached bones are found; the remains usually found were those of per- 
sons who must have been from six feet six inches to seven feet in height. 
Others of smaller size were also found. A log school house was erected on 
the east side of this mound in 1835, and there many a good citizen of a later 
date received his education. 

VILLAGES IN LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. 

Tile villages within this township are : Waterman, Howard, Sylvania 
and Tangier. Waterman, in the northwest corner, was originally called 
Lodi, the name being changed in 1857, in honor of Dr. Waterman, who set- 
tled there that year and was an important factor, having opened a large gen- 
eral store and a pork-packing establishment. Here a large trade was carried 
on, as in all the early-day river towns, in shipping provisions, grain and other 
commodities to New Orleans, by water, on Hat-boats. The salt well at- 
tracted much attention when the Wabash & Erie canal was opened, that, too, 
had great influence in reviving trade until that waterway was abandoned in 
the seventies, after which the town went almost to decay. In 1880 there was 
a large flouring mill erected by C. K. Bright and L. C. Davis. In i88o the 
business of the place was confined to a drug store, one dry goods store, a 
grocery, a blacksmith shop, a saw-mill and two physicians. There is but little 
there today to mark the former fond hopes entertained bv its citizens of the 

(13) 



194 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

fifties and seventies. A Masonic lodge was instituted there in 1855, called 
Lodiville Lodge No. 172. 

Howard, formerly called Westport, is situated on the Wabash river, and 
was laid out in 1827 on land owned by J. and J. Burton, who built a house 
there and opened the first store in the vicinity, probably in the township. The 
place grew rapidly and numerous business houses were erected, among the 
hea\iest operators baing James H. Beadle and Harlan Harvey, who shipjied 
grain and jx^rk to New Orleans and southern [joints generally. After the canal 
was opened business greatly increased, there being at one time two large dry 
goods stores, two grain warehouses, and numerous stores and work-shops. 
Thirty-three years ago all had gone — no trace of business enterprise was left, 
save the bed of the old canal and the decaying timbers of an occasional old 
warehouse. The churches and schools are mentioned elsewhere. The name 
is no longer listed on the maps of Indiana. 

Sylvania, one of the sprightly villages of Parke county forty years ago. 
is located on the northwest Cjuarter of section 14, and is younger than either 
Howard or Waterman. The first to embark in business here was Henr}- 
Durham, who opened his blacksmith shop. Following him were Atkinson 
and M. Stout, who each opened stores. Durham sold to Gillum Brothers. 
In 1880 a Masonic lodge was organized at Sylvania. Churches and schools 
are mentioned elsewhere, under general chapter headings. At one time there 
were factories making broom handles, tile, picket fencing, bee-hives and a 
wagon shop. For many years it has been a station point on the Chicago & 
Eastern Illinois railroad. While other towns and hamlets draw from its 
trade, yet a considerable business is carried on at that point. 

Tangier was platted later, just to the north of Sylvania. This is one 
of the modern railroad points of this county and is a convenience to a large 
number of farmers in that section of the county. It was platted by William 
B. Swaine and Edmund Lindley, March 13. 1886, on section 15. towaiship 17, 
range 8. It now has a popuation of about three hundred. 



CHAPTF.R XXI II 



PENN TOWNSHIP. 



Perm township is situated in tlic north-central portion of I'arke county. 
It was the latest township fornied, its organization taking, place in 1854, its 
territory being set off from parts of Liberty, Reserve and Sugar Creek town- 
ships, and is formed in the shape of a letter "T". It contains twenty-one full 
and fi\"e half sections. It is bounded on the north by Liberty and Sugar Creek 
townships, Howard and ^Vashington on the east. Adams and Reserve on the 
south and Liberty and Reserve on the west. In 1880 the assessed valuation 
of all property in this township was reported as $655,065, as against $617,775 
in 1912. In 1880 it was fourth in population of the townships in this county, 
and today is, according to the federal census of 1910, 1,393. 

The soil in Penn township is a rich clay loam, which produces large crops 
of wheat and grain of all kinds. Drainage is excellent and the rural scenes of 
today are a feast to the admirer of pretty and highly cultivated famis. The 
land on either side of Sugar creek, in the north part, is hilly and picturesque 
in the extreme. Rock Hollow and other favorite resorts for tourists are 
here found. Sugar creek, Leatherwood, Roaring creek, all are included in 
the streams of the territory. From an early day, mills and factories have 
been built along these streams. The gravel road from Rock\ille to .\nnapolis 
greatly improved this township, as did the construction of the Indianapolis. 
Danville & Southern railroad, which has for a station point the village of 
Bloomingdale. This portion of Parke county was originally largely of the 
Quaker, or Society of Friends, religious faith. North Carolina furnisJied 
most of the pioneers. That was no desirable home for people of this sterling- 
faith ; they never believed in slavery and would not \ote and act with the 
sla\e-holding element of the South, hence sought new homes in a strange 
land. The act of 1787 declared that the Northwest Territory should be free, 
and for this reason, together with the natural advantages, manv of the Friends 
located in Indiana and many came to Parke county. Among the first of this 
sect to locate here was Perley Mitchell, who came about 1823. and was soon 
followed by the Tenbrooks, the largest number of these people coming in 
1824-5. In 1829 came John Woody and sons, James and Thomas. Others 



ip6 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

were Joseph Finney, James Nelson, Stephen Kersey, \\'iniam Hunt and Eli 
and James AIcDaniel. 

VILLAGES. 

About 1825-6 the village of Annapolis was first settled, and it was not 
long before the ground was cleared off by William Maris and John Moulder. 
About the same date Bloomingdale (then called Bloomfield) was originated. 
Both places could not, of necessity, succeed, and efforts were made to unite 
the two and locate a town on neutral ground, but this failed, Annapolis re- 
fusing to leave her first choice. A few years after laying off the village the 
first store was- opened by Thomas Woody, the next being started by a com- 
pany consisting of William Marvis, John Moulder and Aaron Maris. Either 
John Moulder or William Holliday was the first postmaster. In 1880 the 
business interests of the place consisted of two dry goods stores and a grocery, 
one drug store, two blacksmith shops, one harness shop, a pump factory, saw 
and planing-mill. a pottery, and a few lesser institutions. For churches and 
schools see other chapters. The village now has about two hundred popula- 
tion. 

Bloomingdale, or Bloomfield as first named, was platted in 1825, or 
1826, south of the present site of the village, where the first store was opened 
in a log house by William Pickard, his son John opening a drug store, it being 
through the efforts of the latter that the tow n was begun. But Annapolis for 
a time took away all the trade from this place, until times changed conditions 
in the community, after which Bloomingdale overtook and even greatly sur- 
passed her rival at the north. The gravel road was constructed in 1864, and 
that aided the place materially. Then the building of the railroad through 
the township in 1873, a short distance to the north, helped Bloomingdale 
immensely. 

Of the once famous Bloomingdale Academy, the reader is referred to 
Prof. Linebarger's article on the schools of Parke county. This forms an 
important item in the history of this countv. wielding as it did great influence 
in this section of Indiana for many years. Bloomingdale now has a popula- 
tion of about five hundred and twenty-five people. 

EARLY-DAY INDUSTRIES. 

The men and women who first dared to invade this section met with 
much to dishearten those not possessing stout hearts and strong arms. Work 
for both was the order of the day, which meant half the night as well. Cloth- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 197 

ing all had to be prepared and made from home-made goods. The busy 
house-wife then found little time to spin "yarns" as gossiping women do 
now-a-days. The yarns they spun were of a better, more useful variety. 
The people then carded and spun their own wool by hand, the cards being- 
fastened to two pieces of board a foot long and five inches wide, with handles 
in the center. The wool was put on one of them with the hand, and when 
carded enough the back was used to take off the roll. It was about 1825, 
when Perley Mitchell started his carding machine, and it was not long before 
several others were in operation. The machines in use at that time were 
similar to thpse used today. The rolls were about two feet long, and when 
carded were rolled up in a sheet or blanket, being pinned together with thorns, 
and weighed from ten to forty pounds. They were usually carried home on 
a horse in front of the rider, then spun on what was known as the "big wheel." 
From twelve to forty cuts was a da\'s stint, and the pay for spinning warp was 
sixteen and two-thirds cents; for filling, a shilling per dozen cuts, and for 
carding rolls, with machinery, ten to twelve cents per pound. The wages 
paid for weaving were, for plain, ten cents a yard ; for twilled, twelve and a 
half cents, from three to fi\e yards being a good day's work. Two hands 
with machinery, could easily card and spin one hundred dozens per day of 
■coarse yarn as was used at that time, and one girl with a power loom could 
weave from thirty to si.xtv yards per day. Every woman understood the art 
of dyeing all colors perfectly, excepting blue, which was more difficult to 
manage and was governed by luck or the sign. The colors were obtained 
from various barks, those chiefly used being walnut, which produced a favor- 
ite, fashional)le color of brown goods; yellow, from black oak bark, and 
swamp ash for drab. Unless a girl could do all these kinds of work she was 
not considered "bright" enough for marriage. 

About 18,^4. Mahlon Reynolds erected his fulling-mill, in ])artnership 
with Jerry Siler, on section 23, on Leatherwood creek. The machinery con- 
sisted of a shearing machine, press plate, screw press papers, and copper dye 
kettle, which would contain alxDut sixty gallons, having been brought from 
Dayton, Ohio, a special trip ha\ing been made there by Todd Mazwell, with 
a huge two-horse wagon, to purchase them, and who later rented the mill and 
conducted it for several years. This fulling-mill was run by water power, and 
the shearing machine by hand. The follow ing ])rices Dbtained : b'uliing, 
coloring and dressing the cloth, tw enty-five cents per yard ; without dressing, 
twenty cents; coloring and scouring flannel, ten cents; coloring and fulling 
jeans, ten cents. For several years the dye stuffs were hauled in wagons to 
the mill from Davton, Ohio. 



198 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

About 1827, Simon Rubottom erected the first grist-mill in the town- 
ship on Leatherwoocl creek, on section 23. the millwright being an old man 
named Antony. The machinerj' consisted of an under-shot water-wheel and 
one run of stones, or "nigger-heads, '" each burr being a single stone. The 
bolt was a single reel, twelve feet long, inclosed in a chest, and was operated 
by hand. The flour, middlings and shorts, all fell into this chest, the bran 
coming out at the end. The miller separated the flour, middlings and shorts 
with a wooden shovel, the former afterwards being carried up stairs in a 
half bushel measure to the bolting hopper. Tiie building was a rough affair, 
constructed of logs, without chinking" or daubing, and no floor except a little 
around the hopper. When a fire was needed it was made on the ground, and 
the smoke allowed to escape through the cracks. 

The first saw-mill in this neighborhood was that of Perley Mitchell, on 
Leatherwood creek, in 1826; the ne.xt by Isaiah Pemberton, in 1828. a half 
mile up the same stream. On account of bad engineering, later it was dis- 
covered that the work was useless, as there was not fall enough to drive the 
machinery, when it was torn down and moved to the other side of the creek, 
by William Pearson, in 1829. In 1831, Adam Siler built a mill a half mile 
above the last named, which could be run about half the }ear. Two of these 
mills failed entirely in 1845; that of Peai^son was kept sawing until 1862. 
From five to eight hundred feet of lumber was a day's cut. Sometimes they 
run all night through, and on Sunday as well. Saw logs were generally 
hauled during the w inter on sleds drawn by oxen. When horses were used, 
the simplest harness was employed, consisting of shuck collars and rope har- 
ness, entirely destitute of iron, save the bridle-bits. "Log-chains" were made 
from large rope twisted together. The sawing rates were twenty-five cents 
per hundred feet for poplar and thirty-seven and a half cents for hard timbers. 
Lumber sold at the mill from fifty to seventy cents per hundred feet, and had 
dull sale at that, until the prairies west of the Wabash began to be settled up, 
when large quantities were demanded. The first steam saw-mill was that of 
Jeremiah Siler. a fourth of a mile south of Blooniingdale, about i860. 

In 1848 another mill was built at Devil's Den, on Sugar creek, in section 
36, by Prior Wright, whose store at the Narrows had been washed away by 
the high water of the year before. 

In 1837 William G. Cofiin erected a fountlry on Leatherwood creek, two 
and a half miles nortiiwest of Bloomingdale, wiiere be made the first cast plow- 
used in this part of Indiana. Owing to its weight and clumsiness, it w'as 
ne\er popular and was soon dri\en out of the markets. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 1 99 

FLAT-IiOAT BflLDIXG. 

One of the biggest industries, however, was that of constructing llat- 
l)oats. John M. Kelly gave tiie following, in substance, concerning this 
enterprise, which runs as follows : 

"The first flat-boat was built in the winter of 1833-4 at the Narrows of 
Sugar creek, and immediately afterward at Coxy's boat yard, three miles 
aw-ay. The next established was Canipljell's and Tenbrook's, at what is now- 
known as Rockport Mill, then called Devil's Den. A few years later the 
business was carried on e.xtensivel)- at Jessup's Mill on Mill creek, at Coffin's 
boat yard, where the old foundry stood, and at several points alxne the nar- 
rows of Sugar creek. John Kelly engaged in the business in 1833 at Coxy's 
boat yard, the usual dimensions of boats being sixty feet long and sixteen 
feet wide. He was advised by old boat-builders not to exceed that size on 
account of the danger and difficulty of getting them out of Sugar creek, it 
being a crooked and very rapid stream. This advice coming from men older, 
and of more experience than himself, he accepted as sound doctrine, until 
his o\\ n experience taught him dififerent. Mr. Kelly stated that the most diffi- 
cult boat to manage he ever handled was fifty feet long and twelve feet in 
width, while the easiest one was eighty-five feet long by eighteen in width. 
About the average price of a boat sixty feet long, delivered in the Wabash, 
was one hundred dollars, the size of the gunnels to secure a ready sale being 
thirty inches at the bow-rake, which was the largest part and ten inches thick. 
A tree suitable for gunnels used to cost from one to five dollars according 
to distance from the yard, the tree being split into the necessary size where 
felled and the gunnel logs hauled by oxen to the boat-yard. When the 1)oat 
was framed and ready for the bottom, the planks are fastened in their [)laces 
with wooden pins, it requiring from ten to twelve hundred of them to com- 
plete the job. It requires seven thousand feet of lumber to l^uild a sixt_\- 
foot flat-boat and this must l)e all first class, as there is no place for inferior 
lumber, save in the false floor. From twelve to twenty pounds of hemp are 
retiuired to calk a ]x>at of this size, after which the \essel was ready for 
launching. The boats were built from three to four feet above the gunnel 
and sided up with two-inch jilank, the same as the bottom, the niof. which 
had a pitch of sixteen inches, being covered with five-eighth-inch bijards. 
The vessels were run out of the creek with two oars, one at the Ijow and 
one at the stern, none being used on the side while in the creek, except upon 
going o\er dams when the water was low . when it was necessarv to get up 



200 PARKE AND VFRMILIJON COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

as much headway as possible, that being the safest method. The steering 
oar is made of the same length as the boat, and so constructed as to balance 
in the middle. The steersman stands, or rather walks, on a bridge in the 
center of the vessel, so that by the time he reached New Orleans he would 
walk a great many miles, from one side of the craft to the other, while steer- 
ing her on her course. At the date of the first construction of flat boats here, 
the cargo consisted entirely of com and pork, but a few years later crates of 
wheat, flour, lumber, staves, hoop-poles, potatoes, poultry and even live hogs 
became common. The amount of ear corn which a sixty-foot boat would 
carry was one thousand eight hundred bushels, but there was a constantly in- 
creasing demand for larger boats and before the business went out of exist- 
ence boats were built which would carrv double that amount." 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



RESERVE TOWNSHIP. 



This townshi]-) derived its name from its having heen a part of the 
Indian reservation, which consisted of a strip of territory on the Wabash 
river, seven miles in width, extending from the mouth of Sugar creek to the 
mouth of the Raccoon. It comprises twenty-two full and five fractional sec- 
tions, and originally contained a large portion of what is now Penn town- 
ship. Its western boundar}' being the Wabash river, its territory early at- 
tracted the attention of pioneers going up and down the river in search of 
homes. Liberty township is to its north. Penn on the east and south is 
Wabash township. A third of a century ago and more this township wa.s 
noted for having the largest farms and some of the best in the count)-. Ex- 
cept the draws and rough land along Sugar creek, the entire township is fitted 
for successful agriculture, and has come to be highly improved and well culti- 
vated bv men who, knowing the producing qualities of the fertile soil, hold 
their lands at a verv high figure. Eastward from the ^\■abasll river there is 
a strip of over two miles in width, extending back to the bluffs, which was 
originally covered with the finest kind of heavy timber. The assessed valua- 
tion of the personal and real property in this township in 1912 as shown by 
the county records was $718,235. Its population in 1910 was 2,224. Of 
the schools, churches and lodges, see chapters of a general county nature 
within this volume. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

Ohio furnished many of the first settlers for this section of Indiana, who. 
having been pioneers in that state, knew full well how to subdue .mother 
wilderness and cause it to blossom like the rose. Xortli Carolina also fur- 
nished many more, a greater portion of wliom were of the Society of Friends, 
and this people left their moral and Christian impress upon the township. 
The Indians, knowing full well what sort of men and women they had to cope 
with, made the pioneers their friends. The first to come into what is. Reserve 
township to make a permanent settlement were the Linebargers. in 1822. the 
next being John Beard, who erected the first mill on Sugar creek in that year, 
the Browns, Mellikins and Torias Horgar, immigrating at the same time. In 



202 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

the southeastern part, in 1825, came Puett and Cliarles Burton. In 1826 
Solomon Allen arrived, the other early settlers being Warren Davis, Daniel 
Wickersham, the Morris family. Isaac Pemberton, Peyton Wilson, Abraham 
Halliday. Jeremiah Siler and others, .\nother settlement was that at ]\Ionte- 
zuma, those in the van being Whitlock, Majors, Joseph Hayes. Webster and 
Feeney, who arrived about 1823 or 1824. William and Thomas Cook, James 
and Samuel Hill, Aquilla Justin, John Shook and Chatsworth also arrived at 
an early day. Immigration soon rapidly increased and poured a steady, 
strong current into the heart of the wild forests, which soon heard the sound 
of the woodsman's axe and the hmd where fur centuries had stood the stately 
trees was turrred into grain and corn fields. The leveling of the forests also 
created another paying industry, that of lumbering and milling. John Beard 
erected the first mill, the simple corn-cracker of which was put in operation 
in 1822. It stood at what is now known as West Union. It was a log 
structure and the grinding arrangement consisted principally of nigger-head 
burrs, which, if sharp and newly dressed, would grind grain to the amount 
of about three bushels per hour. When the pioneer wanted wheat flour he 
had to go to Roseville. where the nearest flouring mill was situated. In 1826 
Solomon Lusk erected a mill at the Narrows, and in 1827 Simon Rubljottom 
built one on Leatherwood creek, and in the same year another mill was put 
up near Armiesburg, after which the settlers had milling nearer home. The 
implements used at an early day were of rude construction, and tiie following 
description, written many years since, will give the reader an idea of tlieir 
character in general : Of course the axe was first in importance and was 
used for many mechanical purposes. It was designed for practical e\erv- 
day use, more for what it would do than for its beauty or ornamentation. 
The Carey plow, the most generally in use, was a rude affair, having a 
wrought iron share and a wooden mould-board. This was succeeded in 1839 
by the cast-iron plow made by W. G. Cofiin at his foundry, two or three 
miles northwest of Bloomingdale. This implement was, however, so clumsy 
and heavy that it never amounted to much for practical use. Then came the 
Peacock plow, which had a cast mould-board and a wrought iron share. It 
was made at Cincinnati and superseded all others. Five years later the Rich- 
mond steel plow appeared on the markets and came into favor among the 
farmers. The fields of the pioneer were not large, hence the crops were not 
heavy to plant or cultivate. There being no markets for several years there 
was no incentive to grow much more than JKime consumption demanded. 
The flail was the implement first used in threshing out the grain harvested, 
but was soon exchanged for that better method of securing the wheat, that 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES^ INDIANA. 2O3 

of treading out by horses or oxen tramping" the grain, after which the chaff 
was l>lo\vn out by means of the wind, or by a sheet in the hands of two per- 
sons, making an improvised "fan." The earhest threshing machine in Re- 
serve township was about 1840, owned by Elsberry jinnet, and was a \ery 
incomplete affair, threshing from fifty to one hundred bushels i)er day, and 
delivering the grain and chaff together, later to be sei^arated with a tan. A 
two-horse tread-power was employed to run this machine. Soon the four- 
horse Ground Hog machine came into use, and as the \ears w ent by improved 
machines were invented. 

The mowing scythe, hand-rake and wooden pitch fi>rk were the im[)le- 
ments of hay and harvest, the latter often being a forked sapling with its 
rough prongs sharpened. The grain scoop was not known for several years. 
In cribbing corn it was either thrown with the hands or pushed out of the end 
of the wagon with the feet. The first scoop made in the tow nship was made 
of wood, and owned by John Fortner. In about 1838 iron scoops came into 
common use. 

On account of this township being reserve land, it was not opened up to 
the public as soon as that in other parts of the county. Game of all kinds 
remained here some time after the animals had been driven from other set- 
tlements. Black bear could be found occasionally after the arrival of the 
first settlers: in fact, in 1827 Solomon Allen killed one in his door yard. 
Deer were seen in large droves and furnished the settlers with an abundance 
of good meat, while their skins were used for a number of practical purposes. 
Wild turkeys were formerly very abundant, while ducks and geese were num- 
berless. The raccoon, opossom, fox, mink, otter, wolf, muskrat. weasels and 
other fur-bearing animals were found in large numbers. 

Flat-boating was largely carried on from this part of the county, such 
vessels being the only means of conveyance and transportation of produce to 
markets, and the building ami manning of these crude crafts gave employ- 
ment to many men. A boat-\ard was situated near the mouth of Rush creek 
at a very early date, and at se\'eral points on Sugar creek, as noted in the his- 
tory of Penn township. 

The first school in this township was in the l.inel>arger settlement in 
1824. The first birth was that of Joseph Allen, in 1827, and the first 
recorded death was Solomon .Mien's infant, about the vear 1827. The first 
wedding was that uniting Jeremiah Morris and Marv .\nn Lewis. The 
arri\-al of Mr. Allen in the countr\' was i|uite a helj) to the settlement, as he 
was a wheelwright and cabinet-maker, and made coffins, for which he received 
from twenty-five cents to three dollars each, .\fter paying t'or his land, after 



204 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

coming in, he had eighty-seven cents left to begin honic-l)uilding with. On 
finishing his cabin he immediately seasoned lumber, from which he con- 
structed tubs, buckets and other articles of domestic use, the proceeds from 
the sale of which enabled him to li\e until he got a few acres cleared up, and 
then raised a crop. The second season of his residence here he spent seventy- 
two days assisting his neighbors in log rolling and raising cabins and barns. 

TOWNS AND VILLAGES. 

Montezuma and Coloma are the two town plattings within this township 
around which clusters some of the interesting history of this subdivision of 
Parke county. .Montezuma is situated in the southwest corner of Reserve 
township, on the east bank of the Wabash river, and was a j^lace of earl\- 
day importance in this section of Indiana, when the Wabash river and the old 
Wabash & Erie canal were the great water-ways and outlets to the outside 
markets The town was laid off by Whitlock and ]\lajors about 1824, and 
a larger platting efifected in canal days by Ambrose Whitlock. Julv 20, 1849, 
on sections 25, 26, 35 and 36, township 16, range 9. The first store was 
opened by Joseph M. Hayes ; the next by Nesmith, whose stock, it is related, 
consisted of two bolts of calico and a barrel of whisky. The third store was 
Feeney's. The first justice of the peace was Mr. Chatsworth. and the first 
physician was Dr. Samuel Hill, who arrived at an early day. The first frame 
house, and which was standing about thirty years ago, or possibly later, was 
built by Mr. Webster. It should be remembered that the Wabash river towns 
of that long ago day consisted of Montezuma, Covington. Portland, Attica, 
Williamsport, LaGrange and Lafayette, and a spirited rivalry was on between 
these points for the supremacy. As river towns they all were equally situ- 
ated as to commercial importance and for years it was hard to tell which 
would finally terminate in a city of goodly proportions. Keel-boats and 
pirogues touched all of these landings and the same pioneer steamboats did 
carrying trade for each. Eventually, Lafayette obtained and kept the prize, 
it having secured a railroad before the other towns. However, upon the com- 
pletion of the Wabash & Erie canal in 1850, Montezuma took on a new life 
and up to i860 was the most prosperous period it had ever experienced. 
Business of all kinds, for all this section of country on lx)th sides the river, 
was carried forward in good and enterprising shape. The business of clos- 
ing the canal, effected about 1873, sounded a death knell to many industries 
at Montezuma, but the building of the Decatur, Indianapolis & Springfield 
railroad, in that year, brought new hope to the citizens of the river town. 



PARKE .\ND VERMII.MON COUNTIES, INDIANA. 205 

for here a station was established and the company erected their shops there. 
Since then the town has gone along in its quiet manner, ebljing and falling 
like the ocean's tide, some decades being better than others, but never reaching 
the once fancied greatness it hoped to attain to. In 1880 the tow n had a large 
tlouring-mill, four grain warehouses, two saw-mills, one planing-mill, a pack- 
ing and slaughter house, two dry goods stores, two drug stores, six groceries, 
one clothing store, one hotel, a livery, agricultural implement warehouse and 
two saloons. Its population then numbered about 700, and that of the town- 
ship was 1,550. The 1910 census gave Montezuma a population of 1,537, 
and Reserve township was given as 2,224. ^^ 1880 the assessed valuation of 
Montezuma corporation was in personal property, $105,075, and of real 
estate, $123,060, while the township had $456,466. Today (1912) the \alua- 
tion of real and personal property in Montezuma is $420,888, and in the town- 
ship a total of $718,235. 

In 1880, the railroad repair shops were burned and many men thrown 
out of employment, which tended to injure the growth of the place. 

Disastrous fires, too, have played their part in hindering the growth of 
Montezuma. Among these was that of 1907, which destroyed the newly 
built Sanitarium hotel, a mineral water resort of modem type, with more than 
forty elegant rooms and all modern fixtures. The artesian well furnished a 
superior water to many of the well-known and successful health resorts of 
the country. The property on which flows the artesian water is owned by, 
at least controlled, by William Montgomery. 

The old flouring-mill, after many years, was converted into a cob- 
grinding mill, which when it was doing a good business, in 1909, was also 
burned and never rebuilt. To the east of town a few miles is located one of 
the largest brick-making plants in the state. It is known as the Marion 
Brick Works. 

BUSINESS INTERESTS OF I912. 

At present Montezuma has the following interests : 
The First National Bank, Citizens Bank. 
Montezuma Enterprise, C. S. Overman. 
Postmistress, Emma Powell. 
Hotel, D. I. Dunlap. 

General stores — J. E. Johnson & Co., William H. King, Kemp Bros., 
\V. B. Pawley, M. Watson. 

Hardware — Cornwell & Spencer 
Drugs — A. B. Powell, F. S. Stebbins. 



206 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Harness — Charles Fortner. 

Clothing — Harry Reeder. 

Elevator — Rohm Bros. 

Feed mill — George Mathas. 

Ceifient blocks — \\'illiam Carty and Wallace Dietz, contractors. 

Lumber — Montezuma Lumber Company. 

Furniture — Hugh Montgomery & Company. 

Restaurants — ^ Alexander Leslie, John Gilmore. 

Tin Shop and Sheet Metals— L A. Sharp. 

Livery — Cheesewright & Machin, D. M. Scott. 

Blacksmiths — Richard Mcintosh, H. Webster, H. Welchans. 

Meats— A. B. Jones, W. P. Pawley, H. Aikman. 

Physicians — Mrs. R. L. Dooley. J. C. Reeder, O. A. Xeuhouse. 

Veterinary Surgeon — Dr. Back. 

Carpet factor}' — S. Case. 

Automobile Garage — Pitman & Co. 

Gravel companies — Three in number. 

Saloons — Four in number. 

Barbershops — Three in number. 

Transfer company — H. Reirdan. 

Dental Surgeon — One. 

Photograph gallery — One. 

Jewelry — One. 

Machine shoi) — A. E. Higbee. 

Newspaper — The Enterprise. 

VILLAGE CORPORATION. 

The history of the corporations here dates back to a very earh' date. 
The 1912 officers are: President, William Whitson; members, H. D. Coffin. 
Fred Dicken. Dr. B. F. Hudson, George Mathas: treasurer, Joseph Taylor; 
clerk, O. N. Henderson ; marshal, N. S. Wheeler. 

In 1906 an electric light plant was installed, the power coming from and 
furnished by the Burns & Hancock brick plant on the west side of tiie Wabash 
river. It has been a success and the forty street lights are now no expense to 
the town, as the plant is more than self-sustaining, and it is designed, as 
soon as possible, to erect new works in the town proper and add w ater \\orks, 
making a combined plant. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. T.O'J 

The churches of Montezuma are: The Methodist, Presbyterian, Chris- 
tian, United Brethren, HoHness and the CathoHc. 

The lodges are Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. 

COLOMA. 

Coloma is a small hamlel situated on sections ^^t^ and _54. of Reser\-e 
township. Its population is about two hundred. It is located on Rocky run, 
and was laid out in 187O, but was located in 1864, when William Lewis 
opened a store there. M. Morris purchased this store, and was appointed the 
first postmaster. For many years William P. Musgrave conducted the only 
store of the place. Rocky Run Friends church was located at this point 
many years since. This village serves well the surrounding community in 
which it is pleasantly situated. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

RACCOON TOWNSHIP. 

Tin- Indians called the two streams now known as Big and Little Rac- 
coon creeks, "Big and Little Coon." These streams both cross this township 
and hence its name. The township, which is six miles square and contains 
twenty thousand and forty acres, is situated in the southern tier of townships. 
The land was once densely covered by a forest of giant trees, which had to be 
cut down before the surface was suited for farming; this was a great task, 
but was finally accomplished by the sturdy pioneers' axe. In the Raccoon bot- 
toms the land is composed of a rich alluvial soil, yielding large crops of corn 
and wheat. Other parts of this township are not so fertile and productive, 
but since draining has been made, and several marshes reclaimed, there is 
much good land outside the bottoms. What is known as the "Ten O'Clock 
Line," which divides the old and new purchases, crosses this township from 
sections 6 to 36. 

EARLY DAYS. 

Just who was the first person to actually settle in this township is not 
fully established. James Kerr and Dempsey Seybold came into the township 
and selected lands in 1816, but there seems no authority showing that any 
permanent settlement was effected until 1818, when Dempsey Se}bold came 
with his family from Kentucky, and settled on section 20, later known as the 
Jeffries property. Mr. Seybold brought his wife and at least one child, 
Thomas K.. born in 1816, who afterwards married and became the father of a 
family, among whom were W. H. H. Dempsey, C. John and James H.. all 
well known settlers of Raccoon township in later years. It is certain that Mr. 
Seybold was the second settler in this township north of the Big Raccoon 
creek, there being only one other in the vicinity at the time, and only three 
families in Parke county north of the Big Raccoon. Mr. Seybold became 
influential and was one of the men who helped to locate the county seat and 
court house square of Vigo county, in Terre Haute. He later served as judge 
of the court as an associate judge. He died on June 3. 1835, leaving at least 
two sons, Thomas K. and Dempsey. Thomas K. was murdered at Terre 
Haute. April 9, 1850, and the hand that perpetrated the crime was not know-n 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 2O9 

for several years, when at last a man from Illinois, on his death-bed. con- 
fesseil the deed, i'efore the Seybolds could reach the sick man death had 
removed the criminal, so that the mystery was never fully understood. About 
the time last mentioned, came in the Mitchells. William IJ. ^Mitchell was born 
in Raccoon township February 22, 1818. The Millers settled here either 

1818 or 1819, for John B. Miller was born here August 23, 1819. It is said 
that the first log cabin built in the township was by one Richardson. Other 
settlers in 1818-19 were the Adamses, Samuel, Sr., William, Andrew, James, 
John and Samuel Adams, also William Nevins and possibly a few more. In 

1 819 Nathaniel Bliss Kalley. then nineteen years of age, came from Ohio to 
Raccoon township and leased a farm from David Hansel. There were not 
enough men in the community to raise Dickson's mill, so Indians were pressed 
into such work. With Indian Bill, Nathaniel Kalley used to sport in 
wrestling matches. He raised a crop of corn and then returned to Ohio and 
in 1821 or 1822 returned with his father and mother, and family of wife and 
one child, Ruth, he having been married to Rebecca Hansel in Ohio. He 
rented till 1831, when he entered the west half of the northeast quarter of 
section 11, township 14, range 7. His patent was signed by .\ndrew Jackson, 
President of the United States. He was one of the township's best and most 
stirring men. His father, David, entered one hundred and twenty acres east 
of Nathaniel's, where he spent the remainder of his years. At about this 
time, and very soon thereafter, came in Jacob Bell, John Blue, John Morrow, 
James Barnes, John Robinson, Joseph Ralston, John Prince and \'incent Jack- 
man. 

In 1820 William Rea, father of the first clerk of Parke count)-, came, in 
company with James Boyd and James Fannin, from Chillicothe. Ohio, and 
settled on the southwest quarter of section 7, in Raccoon township, and there 
erected a log cabin, which still stood thirty years ago, having always served 
as a comfortable dwelling house. He was the first to locate on the Little Rac- 
coon. Either in the autumn of 1821 or the spring of 1822, John Sunderland, 
Sr., and son, John, Jr.. came from Ohio and located on the northeast tpiarter 
of section '), ;uid a sun-in-law of Mi". Sunderland, Henry (ireen, settled on the 
east half of liie northwest (|uarter of section 5. In the fall nf iSjo riiomas 
Gilkinson, in company with James Buchanan, came to what is now i\accoon 
township and entered their land. In the s])ring of 1821 Thomas (lilkinson 
came in and took land in the snuthwest (piarter of section 3. built a cabin. 
cleared oft" a few acres and tended his crop of corn, and in the fall of that 
year brought his wife and five children from Kentuckv and settled in what 
(14) 



2IO PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

was then a wilderness of wood and wild animals. In 1S21 jeptha Garrigus 
moved to Raccoon township, bringing his family in a boat down the Ohio 
ri\er. up the Wabash and Big Raccoon, into the southwest part of Raccoon 
township, where he settled. Jeptha is supposed to have brought the first rats 
to this region among his articles of freight. He had thirteen children, and 
had served as a colonel in the war of 181 2. When he was married, at his 
request the following marriiige ceremony took place: "I, Tobias Miller, jus- 
tice of the peace for the county of Parke, do hereby certify that Jeptha Gar- 
rigus and Polly Kratdzer are joined together in marriage as long as they 
could agree, by me this October 24. 1834. John G. Danis, clerk." 

About this time there were three separate settlements in Raccoon town- 
ship : The Bell and Garrigus settlement, in the southern part ; the settlement 
around "Sodom.'' so called on account of its distillery and the general wicked- 
ness of the place; it is now- Bridgeton; and the settlement in the northwestern 
port, known as the Pleasant Vallev settlement. 

From 1820 to 1830 prominent among the newcomers were James Hop- 
per, the Hartmans, Charles Beacham. Samuel Crooks. William Rea and 
Robert Martin. These early settlers were men of sturdy, honest yeomanry 
of the Eastern 'and Southern states, who desired free and independent homes 
of their own. Indeed, through all those long years of hardships, they were 
building far better than they knew, and their children and children's children 
are now reaping the reward of those pioneer years on tlie part of those early- 
day toilers and builders. 

MILLING. 

The Lock.vood mills, later known as the Bridgeton mills, were built by 
Lockwood ani2 Ailliman about 1823. but owned by Oniel and W'asson. Daniel 
Kalley later owned the mill site. It changed hamls several times and finally 
burned down. The next fall the records runs that "the people got up a frolic, 
got out logs and built a new mill." It was run till 1869 and burned again, 
but replaced by a large frame structure, four stories high, costing fourteen 
thousand dollars. 

The first saw-mil! on Little Raccoon was built by Thomas Gilkinson in 

VILLAGES OF THE TOWNSHIP. 

Catlin. Bridgeton and Diamond are the three platted villages within Rac- 
coon township. Away back in the early years, when the surrounding country 
was little else than a wilderness, and the old stage routes connected the prin- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 211 

cipal points of civilization, tiiere began on tin- hanks of the Big Raccoon what 
is now the sprigiitly prosperous town of Bridgeton. The start was the erec- 
tion of a mill that cracked corn. This was about 1821. Nathaniel Smock 
opened a store, and later a distillery started up and was operated many years. 
This made a bad neighborhood which many years ago reformed and is no 
longer known as it was once, as "Sodom.'' Mulligan & Ketchum also handled 
general merchandise at this point, and sold to iVIr. Searing. The town was 
then platted and Smock & McFarland were the leading merchants. In 1856 
Dr. James Crooks settled in Bridgeton. His father was William B. Crooks, 
the first physician in Raccoon township. Milk-sickness was an awfully 
dreaded disorder of early days, and Dr. Crooks seemed to have a fair specific 
for it and was \ery successful in treating his scores of patients. 

The location of Bridgeton is section 22, township 14, range 7 west. It 
was platted by James and Mary Searing, March 27, 1837, and was named 
from the bridge across the Big Raccoon at that paint. In 1880 it had one 
hundred and twenty population, but now has two hundred and twenty-five. 

Catlin is a station point on the A'andalin railroad. It took its origin from 
the fact that the railroad ran through that part of the township and in the 
early years of the Civil war, Hiram Catlin, a Mr. Montgomer\- and Henry 
Miller owning the land, it was thought best to start a town and shipping point. 
Hence Mr. Catlin erected a grain warehouse there, he having for a partner 
in his enterprise Thomas Harshman. The\- liought grain and carried a small 
stock of general merchandise. In 1861 a l)lacksmith shop was built by James 
Sanderson, and Joseph Terry built a wagon shop. The early growth of Cat- 
lin was due largely to the enterprise of James Ray, who came from Ohio to 
Vigo county in 1820, and to Catlin in 1861. In 1862 he erected his saw-mill, 
and in 1865 a good gri.st-mill. He also built a store room, with a ])ublic hall 
above. In all he built seven of the best early-day buildings in the hamlet. .\ 
postotfice was secured in 1862, and Thomas Catlin was appointed postmaster 
by President Lincoln. For many years Catlin was the chief depot for the 
extensive stave trade of this community, and the material was supplied bv 
two saw-mills near by, Hamilton's and \\"nkelield's. 

Today Catlin is a good town, with many excellent business houses and 
tasty residences. Its population is less than two htmdred. The schools, 
churches and lodges of this town, as well as all others in the county, are 
treated under separate headings. 

The population of the township in igio was 1,702. The total assessed 
valuation of property in Raccoon township in 1912 is $958,720. 



212 PARKE AND N'ERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

At Catlin is the great Standard oil pumping station, with its large tanks. 
This company pays taxes on $100,000 worth of property in Parke county. 

The village of Diamond, in this township, was the outgrowth of the 
large coal mining interests of that section of Parke county. It was platted 
on section 34, township 14, range 7. December 10, 1893, by the Brazil Block 
Coal Company. It became a prosperous town and all the common branches 
of business were carried on successfully so long as the mines were running in 
full blast, but because of decline in the mining interests, trouble with labor 
and capital and other causes, the town is not as good as formerly. Its popu- 
lation in' 1910 was placed by the census bureau at 1,007, which has materially 
decreased and the corporation of the town has applied to be annulled and it 
will be assessed and cared for under the old township go\ernment after 1912. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 



In the north central i)ortiun of I'arke county is Sugar Creek township. 
It is on the north line of the countw west of Howard, north of Penn, and 
east of Liberty township. It was originally a part of Howard township, but 
later a part of Penn township; it was divided in 1855, and now contains 
twenty-three full and five fractional sections. The topography of this part 
of Parke county is very rough and hilly, but even these hilly lands are val- 
uable, as they afford a wonderful grazing tract and as such have yielded 
millions of dollars worth of stock and wool to the owners. Greene, Brush, 
Mill and Sugar creeks and numerous branches flow through this township, 
having in years gone by furnished splendid power for the mills located along 
their banks. In 1912 the total personal and real estate valuation, according 
to the county records for this township, was $354,395- Its population in 1910 
was placed at 680. 

The first settlement has about all been recited, so far as interest is con- 
cerned today, in giving the establishment of the first mills, etc. In 1826, at 
the narrows of Sugar creek, was built the first mill in this part of the county, 
by Solomon Lusk. He cut and blasted the mill-race through the rock and 
erected a large mill, making a good grade of flour. He also established a pork 
packing house, and shipped large amounts of grain, pork and flour to points 
as far south as New Orleans. He sent as many as tw^enty flat-boats to that 
gulf port annually. At the same place, in 1830. Prior Wright opened the first 
store in the township, which, along with the mill and other valuable holdings, 
were all swept down the stream by the floods on N^ew Year's morning, 1847. 
In the north part of the township the settlers commenced to pour in by 1827, 
among the first being David Allen, T. Poplit, John Summers, Daniel Myers, 
Thomas Ratclifife, Walter Clark, Jesse Barker, John and Thomas Cachatt 
and Esquire Moore. In the southern part came in Joseph Thompson, Elisha 
Heath, William Floyd, William Jenkins, James Bacus, \\'illiam Cox and 
Zimri Hunt. 

The second mill was built on Mill creek, on the later site of Russell's 
mills, by Joseph Thompson in 1829, the dam being formed by felling a large 



214 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

poplar tree which stood on the bank of the stream, and letting it fall across 
the stream. This dam lasted for twenty years. The original mill was a 
small affair, in a log house, in which corn was cracked by a pair of nigger- 
head stones, the grain when ground being bolted b\ hand, the water-power 
bolting machine being an improvement put in later. Thomas Cachatt oper- 
ated this mill until his death, in 1842, when it was sold to Jerry Kemp, and 
later still it was owned by Joe Russell. In the seventies this mill was refitted 
and converted into a steam mill, with water power when there was a sufficient 
flow. 

Wilkins' mill, on Mill creek, was erected by Jessup & Hunt in 1S35, first 
as a saw-mill, then changed to a saw and carding-mill, and still later with a 
corn cracking mill. In 1852 it was sold to Wilkins, who took the old mill 
down and rebuilt on the south side of the stream. It was finally burned in 
1877 ; Mr. Wilkins died and it was never rebuilt. 

The first meeting house in this township was a log house near the center 
of section 16, built about 1830 by the Methodists. In the northeast corner of 
section i was erected what, in 1S79, was the oldest church building in use in 
the county, and probably the oldest in this part of Indiana. It was built in 
1835 by the Baptist denomination, and known as the Wolf Creek Baptist 
church. The congregation was formed in 1833. 

The first public road was constructed through this section in 1835, by 
James Bacus, and styled the Greencastle and Perryville road, of which the 
pioneers were very proud. This township had numerous Grange lodges in 
the palmy days of the Patrons of Husbandry, Ijut they ha\e long since gone 
the way of all the earth, and "middle men," legitimate dealers, ha\'e taken the 
place of half farmer and half merchant men. 

At Russell Mills postoffice a large flouring mill was erected, and a few 
stores opened, a shop or two started and a physician located there before 1879. 
Another large store was started at what was known as Orangeburg; also Dr. 
Williamson located at that point. There are no towns or villages within this 
township at this date. 

OLD JOHNNY GREEN KILLED. 

A former history of this township gives the following concerning the 
death of old Johnny Green, the noted Indian chief : 

"The last Indian killed in this part of the country was old Johnny Green. 
He was a bad Indian in fact. His own people would not let him associate 
with them. One dav Henrv Litzev and some more of the old settlers were at 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 215 

old John Beard's mill, at the mouth of Sugar creek, after flour; the old Indian 
also happened to visit the mill at that time and began boasting of the number 
of women and children he iiad killed. In place of going on the war path 
with the warriors, he used to skulk around the settlement and slaughter the 
defenseless females and infants and on this occasion was boasting of his 
exploits in that line, and telling with great glee how he used to impale the 
little innocents on saplings and laughed as he described how they \\ould 
shriek and cross their little arms about. This aroused Mr. Litzey's manhood 
and he at once proceeded to inflict corporal punishment on the old heathen. 
The other men, however, interfered and the matter dropped. On his way 
home on horseback, Mr. Litzey heard the report of a gun and felt a bullet 
whistle past him ; glancing behind, he observed the Indian, with a smoking 
rifle in his hand, peering from behind a tree. Being unarmed, he at once put 
spurs to his horse and rode at a lively gait for a mile or two, when, thinking 
he had gone out of the reach of danger, he again dropped into a walk. Again 
he heard the report of a rifle and again felt the wind from the bullet pass 
close by his head, and not being willing to run the risk of a third shot, pro- 
ceeded home as fast as possible and arrived in safety. On reaching the house 
he took his gun and went ofif on a hunt, and Johnny Green was never seen 
again in that part of the country. It was never known for certain who had 
put him out of the way, but public opinion always gave Mr. Litzev the credit 
of the act, though he would never acknowledge it, always stating that the last 
time he saw the Indian, he observed him sitting on a flat rock in Sugar creek, 
just below the Narrows, fishing; suddenly he jumped up as if crazy and dived 
into the water, from which he never arose." 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



UNION TOWNSHIP. 



Union township constitutes all of township 15, range 6, hence is just six 
miles square. It is one of the eastern tiers of townships in Parke county, and 
is bounded on the north by Greene, on the west by Adams, on the south by 
Jackson, and on the east by Putnam county. The main streams that water 
and drain the township are the Big Raccoon. Troutman's run. Limestone 
branch of Raccoon. Rocky Fork and others of lesser importance. Bain's 
branch has its source in the east and flows west, vmiting w ith the larger stream 
in section 10. For a third of a century and more it has Ijeen possible for all 
these streams to be crossed by footmen, except the Raccoon. In many 'places 
the beds of these streams are solid limestone rock. The current of these creeks 
and rivers is very rapid, owing to the great fall of the land through which they 
pass. The lime and sand rock along the rivers afford excellent building stone. 
What is one of the curiosities of this county is the natural bridge on the west 
side of the creek at the old B. A. Martin place, where it spans a .gull}'. It is 
solid stone, averaging twenty-four inches through, ha\ing a span of fully 
forty feet, with a track of about twenty feet wide. One can walk erect 
under this bridge, and at one time it was much higher from floor to ceiling, 
the soil having washed in from above and filled it up below. 

In 191 2 the assessed valuation of all personal and real estate in this 
township was $358,630, and its population in 1910 was placed in the govern- 
ment census report at 948. 

CONCERNING SOME OF THE PIONEERS. 

At the Terre Haute land oftice John Martin purchased, in 1820, one-half 
of section 33, and then returned to his land after a year with his family. 
Before that, however, parties of hunters and fishers had A-isited these lonely 
forests, but not to locate. Mr. Martin came in with his wife and family of 
eleven children. They emigrated from North and South Carolina, in a four- 
horse wagon and a two-horse vehicle, the distance being six hundred miles, 
and \\ere en route six weeks. The way was often so densely covered with 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 217 

timber and brush that an axman had to go ahead and prepare the way. Upon 
arriving they proceeded to erect a rude log hut in which to find sheUer for the 
time being. They buiU on a hillside, at the bottom of which was a fine spring 
of pure water. The Indian trail from Terre Haute through Mansfield and 
along the Big Raccoon to Cornstalk passed close b\- the place. This trail 
crossed and recrossed this creek in many places. The elder Martin was a 
blacksmith and gunsmith, besides being a farmer. The Indians passed up and 
down their trail and frequently camped on the Martin land near the pretty, 
swift-running creek. Tliese consisted of the Delawares and Miamis, and 
they furnished the gunsmith Martin with plenty of repair work, for which 
they usually paid the cash. Mrs. Martin made clothes for the children out 
of buckskin, while they also had plenty of good venison for the table. Mr. 
Martin related how all the Indians would drink and get beastly drunk, except 
one who would always remain sober to take good care of the rest. They fre- 
quently quarreled badly among themselves, but ne\er molested the whites 
and always paid for what they Ixjught of them. There are three Indian 
graves on the Martin farm, but usually they buried their dead at Cornstalk. 
The older Martin continued his liusiness until 1827, when he died and was 
buried on his own land. He had served at the age of sixteen years as a sub- 
stitute under Washington in the Revolution ; had experienced the hardships 
of war, so was w'ell fitted for pioneer life here in the solitary wilds of Parke 
county. The family began to separate and divide the farm, and move and 
marry and raise families of their own. 

The same year in which Mar.tin came in Thomas VVolverton, from Ohio, 
purchased land in sections 29 and 30. They came after the Blakes and stayed 
at Blake's while he cleared up a patch of land and erected a cabin. Wolverton 
then went to Virginia, stayed five years, and returned, built, dug a well, and 
made other impro\'ements. He then went to Ohio. \Voherton died in 1848, 
leaving a wife and family. In 1821 John Miller entered land in sections 29 
and 30. He began his farming, after having built a comfortable cabin. The 
same \ear \\'illiam Sutherlin arrived from \'irginia and bought land in both 
Putnam and Parke counties for his sons. In 1822 he moved his family, wife 
and nine children, and he settled near the eastern line of this township. Isaac 
Norman helped to survey this county in 1820, and selected his lands, but did 
not settle for some years afterward. John Duncan entered land in 1822 or 
1823, and Thomas Carmichael came about that date. In 1822 came the 
Troutmans, Stephenses and Kays. .\ little later came the Jameses and Xa- 
than Plunket, as well as Temuel Norman, who lived on the Big Raccoon. In 
1823 Thomas C. Burton entered land in New Discovery, east and northeast 



2l8 PARKE AND \ERM1LLI0N COXJNTIES, INDIANA. 

of Bellemore. Other early settlers were John Blake and his large family, 
John McGilvery, John Noble, Robert Broaddus and Samuel Harlan. All of 
these arrived prior to 1830. Those coming in between 1830 and 1840 included 
John Collins, John and William Bulion, the Akers and Mershons and Cyrus 
Goss. 

MILLS AND VILLAGES. 

At first the settlers had to carry their grain to mill on horseback to 
Dixon's mill, and a little later to Portland. The Noble mills were built in 
1829 on the Big Raccoon, south of present Hollandsburg. John McGilvery 
hauled the mill-stones from \'igo county. Soon after this the Springfield 
mills were built. These mills did the sawing and grinding for many years 
after the first settlers came in. 

As the township was settled up more there came a natural demand for 
mechanics, the first, of course, being blacksmiths. About 1830 William 
Aydelotte settled on the present site of Bellemore, or rather a half mile to 
the north. There he started a blacksmith shop, doing tiie work for a large 
scope of country. This was the first shop in New Discovery, but Martin's 
must have been the first shop in the township. In those days a round rod of 
iron was seldom seen in these parts, so Aydelotte kept a forge and he and his 
boys forged their own iron. William Alexander probably had the first inn or 
tavern, and this was the germ, so to speak, of Bellemore village. A few 
more cabins were put in around the Guisinger shops, and John Bulion, Sr., 
having come from the East, suggested that the cluster north of the State 
road be called Northampton, after the city of this name in Massachusetts, 
■ and that south of the road be called Southampton. The shop at the latter 
place was soon abandoned, so the town was known as Northampton. John 
Aydelotte built a blacksmith shop, and John M. Turner rented the back room 
for a wagon shop. In 1856 Turner built his wagon shop, the first in the 
township, and there did a thriving business. About 1839 William Thornton 
built the first store room, what came to be known as Bellemore. In 1850 
Isaac Wimmer bought from iVlexander his property, and in 1853 sold to 
Moore and Snow, and they put up a steam flouring-mill and a saw-mill, put 
up a store building and each a dwelling. The hamlet began to be a center 
for trade, and the people demanding a postoffice, they petitioned to have one 
established and suggested the name be Northampton, but while the depart- 
ment granted the office, it found it impracticable to call it Northampton, as 
Indiana already had such a postofiice, hence it was named Bellemore, which 
derived its name as follows : ]\Ir. Moore, then a resident of the place, had 



PASKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 2I9 

some dauyliters w honi (General Steele, a guest of Moore, very much admired. 
The General one day said to his host, "This town ought to be called Bellemore 
(Belle-Moore) in honor of your daughters;" hence the origin. 

The second town in this township was Hollandsburg, on section 9. In 
1855, or about that year, John Collings built a hewed-log house on the spot, 
and Abraham Collings built a store sixteen by twenty feet, and there sold 
goods, carrj'ing about a four-hundred-dollar stock. Thus was started the 
village. The Collings gave it the name it bears, in honor of a Baptist min- 
ister in Kentucky whose name was Holland. About i860, John AIcGilvery 
built a large house for a residence — the best in the place. In 1859 the Baptist 
church was built. The first postmaster was L. 13. McGilvery. Neither Hol- 
landsburg or Bellemore were ever incorporated, but remain small trading 
places. Union township has no railroad facilities, and most of the grain is 
hauled to Rockville and other sliipping places. 

The roads of this section are extremely hilly, owing to the lay of the 
country, and in an early day it was almost impossible to get in and out of the 
township. But as time went on roads were finally provided at much expense 
and hard labor. 

The cemeteries of this township are mostly of the "familv burying- 
ground" character, each early family choosing to bury their departed dead as 
near the spot where they lived and labored as possible. Among the well- 
known burial places are the Blake graveyard, the Martin graveyard, the 
Nobles and Kelley, the Colemans, Harneys, and Coopers. 

The schools and churches of this township have been noticed in the gen- 
eral chapters in this work. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



WABASH TOWNSHIP. 



This siilj-division of Parke county is on the western border, and is south 
of Reserve, west of Adams, north of Florida township, and is bounded on 
the west by the Wabash river, which is the dividing line between this county 
and Vermillion county. Along the river, and in places running back a con- 
siderable distance, are the Walmsh bottoms, which are considered the richest 
land in the state, although up the river at the northwest corner of the town- 
ship the land is higher, but not broken, and is therefore the most valuable of 
any in this part of Parke county. The middle and northeast part of the town- 
ship is quite hilly, the bluffs in places rising abruptly to a considerable height. 
These hills are to quite an extent underlaid with coal; a fair quality of build- 
ing stone is also found in places, and iron exists upon Iron creek in the north- 
east part of the township. Raccoon creek, the chief stream in the township, 
enters from the south and runs northward some little more than half way 
through the township, then turns west, running almost directlv to the river. 
On this stream Abner Cox built the first mill of any note in this part of the 
county. To it came the pioneers, some in row boats, some with carts and 
oxen and some from other parts came with grists on horseback, winding their 
way over hills and through the heavy timber, then scarcely broken by the 
sturdv settler's axe. This mill was built near Armiesburg. After the mill 
came other milling improvements, to grind out whisky from rye and corn, 
making a home market for farmer's produce. One writer in 1879 said: "It 
was discovered that a 'worm' in this still house was more venomous than any 
reptile ever found in Parke county." In 1830, Patterson, Silliman & Com- 
pany started a store here, where pork could be sold at a dollar and fifty cents 
per hundred, salt could be purchased at seven dollars per barrel, and calico 
from thirty-five to forty cents per yard. 

Some of the first settlers hauled w-heat to Chicago, Louisville, and Cin- 
cinnati Ohio, and sold it for fifty cents per bushel and hauled back mer- 
chandise, 

PIONEER SETTLEMENT. 

Among the early settlers may be recalled Isaac Ghormly and family. 
Daniel James and Aquilla Justis, Lucius Kebby and family, Aquilla Punten- 



PARKE AND \KRMII.LIOX COUXTIKS, TXDIANA. 221 

ne\ , Mark ami Thomas Cooke, William Hixon, Azariah Brown. James and 
Aquilla Lavert}-. Man_\- of these pioneers have descendants in the township 
today. 

At the time the early settlers came, the Indians were ipiite numemus. In 
this township was one section of land oiven b)- the state to I'hristmas Dazney, 
spoken of elsewhere in this volume. The Indians were peacealile. hut idle and 
shiftless. 

In 1832 the Mecca saw-mill was built bv Alexander AlcCune and Samuel 
Lowry. In 1833 ^ factory for wool carding and a year later a fulling mill 
were added to the place and in 1855 these gentlemen built a large custom mill, 
In 1873 a good bridge was built over the creek at this place, protected from 
the weather by a shingle roof. This place is about two miles up the creek 
from Armiesburg. The latter place derived its name from the fact that it is 
on the place where General Harrison crossed the Raccoon creek, and camped 
with his army, while en route to the famous battle ground of Tippecanoe in 
this state. 

In 1912 the assessed valuation of personal and real estate property in 
this township was $787,555. Its population in 1910 was 1,955. The churches 
and schools are mentioned under general chapter heads. Many of the early 
settlers buried their dead in the most convenient places, generallv near their 
own homes, and for long years the plow and harvester have gone ruthlessly 
over the spot where lie their remains. Since 1840, however, more care has 
been taken to protect the burial places within the township. About 1836 
Leatherwood burying ground was staked olT and in 1849 ^^'is deeded by 
Isaac Silliman to the trustees of the society of the United Brethren. About 
forty years ago, William Hixon deeded to the trustees a piece of land in sec- 
tion 19, township 15, for a place to bury the dead. Other places were later 
selected. 

The first school house in the township was erected in 1834. b)- A. Mc- 
Cune, three-fourths of a mile from Mecca, to the southeast. 

Flat-boat building was one of the early-day industries in this township. 
Many of the pioneers made trips to New Orleans by these boats. Mr. McCune 
having made thirty-five trips to the gulf in this manner. 

.A. local writer mentions the "never-built'" railroads in Wabash town- 
ship in the following strain : 

"If any township in Parke county, more than another, can boast of her 
imfinished railroads it is Wabash. In 1873 Mr. Young, of Chicago, started 
the Indiana division of the Chicago. Uanville & \"incennes railroad. It was 
graded alxnit half wa\- through the township, from the snuth side, running 



222 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

through the Raccoon bottoms. The truss bridges were also erected. In 
1854 the IlHnois Central and Indiana Central surveyed a line through the 
north part of Wabash township, but never built the road. In 1874. a company 
formed to build the Springfield road. This line passed over the old survey. 
On October 15, 1875, the contract was let to build and own the road from 
Montezuma to Indianapolis, via Rockville. The grading was begun in the 
fall of 1875, and in the winter of 1876 they failed and the road was aban- 
doned. Thus the fond hopes of the Wabash people as well as those of Rock- 
ville, perished and, like the morning dew. flitted away and the prospective, 
like the canal, are 'hopes deferred.' " 

But later the township was blessed with a line of railroad known as the 
Chicago & Eastern Illinois, which enters the county in Liberty twonship and 
traverses the townships of Liberty, Reserve, Wabash, Florida, fonning junc- 
tion with the \'andalia at Rosedale. with a station point in Wabash township, 
at Mecca, on sections 19 and 30. This was constructed in the eighties and is 
a paying railroad proposition and has been the means of bringing into exist- 
ence the sprightly town of Mecca, which was platted on section 20, township 
15. range 8. August 7, 1890. by Samuel L. McCune. Other plattings were 
made later. The place now has a population of about one thousand four 
hundred and is supplied with all that goes toward making up a modern buiU 
town of its size. Its churches and schools and other interests are noted 
throughout other chapters, in a general way with other towns. Being one of 
the new towns of the count)-, its early history is not so important, but the 
earlv settlement of Wabash township gives tiie pioneer history of that portion 
of the county. 

It may be added that the old \\'al)ash & Erie canal runs from north to 
south, through ^Vabash township, and in its day was looked upon as a great 
thoroughfare. Traces of the canal are to be seen at many places along the 
western part of Parke count\', including the town of Monteziuna and Reserve 
and Wabash townships. 

At Mecca there is now in operation an extensive plant for the making of 
drain tile, by William Dee, who is the great Chicago tile manufacturer through 
this section of Indiana, with several plants for brick and tile. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 

Washington township is a central sub-(li\ ision oi I'arke count) . It has 
a population, as noted by the last federal census, of 1.481. Its assessed valua- 
tion, both real and personal property, in 1912. is $907,760. This township 
comprises part of township 15 and township 16, ranges 6 and 7, and contains 
thirty-six sections of rich, beautiful land, with extensive coal-bearing lands 
and mines, the latter for year having been its greatest source of revenue. The 
old-time log cabins that once dotted this section have been displaced and mod- 
ern farm houses of rare excellence and attractiveness now adorn the entire 
township. Several never- failing streams of the hnesl. purest water course 
through this township. Among these may be named Roaring creek, Leather- 
wood, Sand and Williams creeks, whose waters find their way into the little 
Raccoon. 

In 1872 the Terre Haute & Logansport railroad was constructed across 
the corner of this township, and a station point established on section 24, 
which was later named Judson. On section 35 is Xyesville, Iniilt up on the 
coal mining interests of that neighborhood, it having a branch line extending 
to the mines. 

FIRST SETTLERS. 

The first white man to invade and claim land within Washington town- 
ship, as now defined, was Alexander Buchanan, who arri\ed in 182 1, locating 
on section 24, near Little Raccoon creek. \Mien he came this was all a forest 
land and indeed wild in all that could be mentioned. His only neighbors were 
the Indians, they being of the Delawares, Miamis and Pottawatomie tribes, 
whose villages and burying grounds were then numeious in this township. 
The next settler was David Bruen, who located at the point later known as 
Bruen's cross-roads, where the first postoffice was established, with Mr. Bruen 
as postmaster. In the autumn of 1822 there were twelve families in this set- 
tlement. These were the Buchanans, Bruens, David Todd, Ambrose Lambert, 
Charles Abbott, his mother and brother, two families named Harlan, a Dutch 
famih" named Shmok, and the families of McMillan and Garrison, the two 



224 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

later having settled over the line in Adams township. The following year 
came Fleming and James Long, and soon came the McMurtie family. Then 
the number which came in was too large to here trace or enumerate. 

In the Roaring Creek or Poplar Grove settlement, in the north end of 
the township, the first to arri\e was John Maris, in the fall of 1826. He 
settled on the southeast quarter of section 5, on the old Indian trail. He cleared 
ten acres of land and the next year raised a crop of corn for bread purposes 
and feed. He obtained his seed corn from the Cook family, in the settlement 
to the west of him, paying ten cents a bushel for the seed. Next came in 
Joshua Newlin, his son John and daughter Sarah and her husband. James 
Underwood, they being newly married, but had never tried the perplexities 
of married life in a new country. They reached this township in the fall of 
1827 and located on the northeast of section 4, at once building a shed, in 
which they lived for three weeks, at the end of which time they had their 
cabin erected, save the stick-and-clay chimney, which soon followed. The 
following winter was occupied at chopping" and logging, clearing away for a 
patch on which t<.) sow and plant. In tlie meantime the}" had to live chiefly on 
corn bread and mush and milk. Corn was still ten cents. Init money was 
hard to get hold of. They brought seeds with them and planted some peach 
seed, and in three years had plenty of fine fruit from this early planting. An 
apple iircliard was also planted from which they had an abundance of good 
apples within se\en years. His son John settled on section 4, and at once 
cleared away five acres, settling on the same in the spring of 1828. The son- 
in-law, Underwood, settled on section 3 and went to housekeeping. The 
next to come was Nathan Hockett, in the spring of 1828, who went to work 
on land he purchased in section 4. He owned the first cow in the settlement, 
having brought her from North Carolina when he came. The next fall came 
William and Jesse Hobson, locating on section 9. In 1829, in the autumn 
time, came the Teaghe family, their location being on section 8. Others who 
soon swelled the number in the little colony were Aaron Rawlings. Aaron D. 
Huff, Gabriel Wilson, Eli Bundy, Jonathan Trublood and family, W. Hill, 
Elias Trublood, Jesse Yemp, David Newlin. Joshua and John Engle. and the 
McCampbell family. 

The first school house was erected on what was known as the "lost 
(|uarter." a strip of territory on section 26. It was there that a school was 
taught by John McBride. an Irishman. In 1833 the first school in Roaring 
Creek settlement was taught. The Presbyterians built the first meeting house 
in this township in 1823. Early services were held by the Methodist Epis- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 225 

copal people, uiuler Re\-. Craxens, who styled himself, '"The Almighty's Bull- 
dog." See church chapter elsewhere; also educational chapter for schools. 

Among the first deaths in the settlement above mentioned was the drown- 
ing of Samuel Teaghe. July 4, 1834. 

Roseville mills pro\ided the first milling facilities this township had. In 
1825 Samuel Steele built his Portland mill, in Greene township, and soon 
there were a number of mills erected in near-by districts. 

At Nyesville, noted above, in 1880 there were extensive coal mining 
operations opened up, on sections ^^ and 34. These mines were opened and 
worked by the Parke County Coal Mining Company, and this has been the 
means of supporting a good little mining village ever since. The United 
States census of 1910 gave the population as ninety-five, which fluctuates with 
the number of miners employed at various times. 

The village of Judson, a place having less than two hundred inhabitants, 
in 1910, is situated on section 24, of this township, and was platted by Alex- 
ander Buchanan, May 4, 1872. The railroad was completed that year, and 
the first store was opened by Glover & Milligan, who were followed very 
speedily by many more business concerns. Presbyterian and Methodist 
churches were soon organized and houses provided in which to worship. A 
Masonic lodge was formed in 1874. and an Odd Fellows lodge in the same 
year. 



('5; 



VERMILLION COUNTY 



CHAPTER I. 



NATURAL FEATURES OF VERMILLION COUNTY. 

The word "vennillion" is from the French, signifying" "a bright red sul- 
phuret of mercury," and is applied to this territory and the stream by that 
name, on account of the red or brown color of the earth and the abundance 
of "keel," or "red-chalk," found along the banks of the river now called 
Vermillion. It is believed that this substance was formed by the burning of 
the overlying shale, the outcrops of the coal, the latter igniting from the 
autumn fires set by the people then inhabiting" thi.s region. The river was first 
named, then the county. 

Geographically. Vermillion count) is thirty-nine degrees and fifty-five 
minutes north, and eighty-seven degrees and ten minutes west longitude from 
Greenwich, England. The standard railroad time, which is conformed to the 
ninetieth meridian, is about eleven minutes slower than local sun-time. New- 
port, the county seat, is five hundred and twenty feet above sea-level, and fifty- 
five feet above the low water mark of the Wabash river opposite. 

The beautiful Wabash river, with its charming scenerv, is equal in that 
respect to almost any other stream in the W'est. Its silvery ripples are seen 
here and there midst luxurious foliage of splendid forest kings, while long 
ranges of hills add further beauty and sublimity to the scene which is ever a 
feast to the eye of the beholder. The more than thirty-sexen miles of river 
front presented within this county, is wholly made up of attracti\'e natural 
scenery, making the territory one of the "loveliest valleys in the West." The 
W^abash and its tributaries completely drain and water the countv of which 
this volume is a history. Spring branch, really a large creek, flows south- 
westerly through the northeast comer of Highland township. Coal branch 
flows south near the western border. Big Vermillion river winds in graceful 
curves through the southwestern corner of Highland townshi]) and also 
through the northern part of Eugene township. Little \'ermillion river winds 



228 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

through the southwestern corner of Eugene township, emptying into the 
Wabash near the middle of the eastern side of Vermilhon township. Jonathan 
creek, in the western portion of Vermillion township, flows northeasterly into 
Little Vermillion. Brouillet's (pronounced Brulet's creek) is wholly within 
Clinton township, coursing its way southeasterly, forming confluence with 
the Wabash river. Little Raccoon creek, in Helt township, runs to the south- 
east, in the northeastern portion of the township, falling into the Wabash l)e- 
tween Highland and Alta. 

GEOLOGICAL FORMATION. 

Almost one-third of the territory embraced within \'ermillion county con- 
sists of rich, fertile and valuable bottom lands of the great and historic \\'abash 
river together with its affluents. Big and Little Vermillion rivers and Norton's 
creek. The main terrace of the "second bottom," is finely developed in the 
region of Perrysville and Newport. This terrace is from one to four miles 
wide, giving an extended stretch of rich, well drained farming lands, with an 
average elevation of about forty feet above the first bottom. Below the town 
of Newport the blufifs reach the river so nearly that the terrace is nearly 
obliterated, and the immediate bottoms are hence very narrow. At the mouth 
of Little Raccoon creek the bottom lands are extended wider, but there is no 
large amount of terrace land until the head of Helt prairie is reached, at a point 
six miles to the north of the city of Clinton, where it stretches to the south- 
ward and is from one to three miles in width. Again three miles below 
Clinton it narrows clown at the moutii of Brouillet's and the count)" line. 

When Vermillion countv was first settled by white men the bottoms were 
heavily timljered, but a large part of the terrace \\ as de\oid of timber. It is 
hardh' probable that this laud was originally, prairie, on account of its nature 
and favorable situation, hence it is supposed that this land was cleared and 
cultivated by the same race of people, possibly the much-talked-of, and but 
little understood, Mound Builders. The "mounds" are to be seen all through 
this region, and it is thought that the annual fires prevented a re-occupation 
by trees and shrubs. 

Rising from the upper bottom lands bluffs are seen, more or less abrupt, 
which attain a general level of from one hundred and twenty to one hundred 
and thirty feet above the river bed, forming the somewhat elevated border 
lands of Grand prairie. The most gradual ascent is to the westward from 
Perrysville, which provide a natural roadway for the railroad now traversing 
this portion of the county. South of the Big \'ermillion river the bluffs are 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 229 

much Steeper. These bhiffs are too steep for practical cultivation, and tinil)er 
is still found growing, including oak, hickory, maple and walnut, and. in the 
south part of the county, beech. Thirty years ago and less there were found 
large groves of maple of the sugar variety. l''roni the chief streams this tim- 
bered region extends to the westward to the state line. The northern and 
middle portions of the county are in great part a portion of what is known as 
the Grand prairie, which covers all eastern Illinois, from the forests of the Lit- 
tle Wabash to Lake Michigan. 

Vermillion county is blessed with springs, bursting forth from below the 
bowlder clay of the drift period. JNIany of these springs are exceedingly 
strong in their flow, but with the settlement of the county, artificial drainage, 
etc.. have somewhat diminished. 

The alluvium of the river bottoms have the comuiun features of all river 
deposits. Vegetable remains are mingled with fine sand and mud washed 
from the drift-beds up the streams, and occasional deposits of small stones 
and gravel, derived either from the drift or from rock formations through 
which these rivers have cut their way. The only positive information con- 
cerning the depths of these lieds refers to the prairies between Eugene and 
Perrysville. where wells have been sunk sixty feet through alhuia sand, and 
then encountered six to ten feet of sticky, bluish mud filled w itli leaxes. twigs 
and trunks of trees, and occasionally small masses of what appears to have 
been stable manure. This stratum is sometimes called "Xoah's Barnyard." 
The lake-bottom deposits, of a corresponding age, which commonly miderlie 
the soil of the Grand prairie, have been found west of the state line, consi.sting 
of marly-clays and brick-clay sub.soil, and probably exist eipially under such 
portions of the prairie as extend into ^'ermillion county. 

There are numerous fine gravel beds in the county, ])iincipally de\eloped 
since the construction of railroads. The bowlder clay mentioned abo\e. 
which substance forms the mass of drift formation, is a tough, bluish drab, 
unlaminated clay, more or less thoroughly filled with fine and coarse gravel, 
and includes man\- small bowlders. On the high blufi". to the west of Perrvs- 
ville. this bed was penetrated to a depth of about one hundred feet before 
reaching the water-bearing quicksand commonly found beneath it. Outcrops 
of one hundred and ten feet ha\e been measured. This is much thinner in 
the southern part of ^'ermillion coimty. I'"rom tlie difference in ch;iracter of 
the included bowlders at different le\'els. it is supposed bv geologists that the 
currents which brought the materials composing these beds flow ed in different 
directions at different times. 

As an example of the above descriptions, said a writer on this subject 



230 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

twenty-five years ago: "A section from a branch of Jonathan's creek, in 
Eugene township, where bowlder clay, with pebbles of Silurian limestone and 
trap, thirty feet ; vellow clay, with fragments of coal, shale, sand-stone, etc., 
four inches ; bowlder clay, with pebbles of Silurian limestone, twenty-five 
feet; ferruginous sand, a streak; bowlder clay from the northwest, with peb- 
bles of various metamorphic rocks and trap, and nuggets of native copper, fifty 
feet." 

The section of rocks exposed at the horseshoe of the Little Vermillion 
exhibits the following strata : Black, slaty shale; coal, two and a half to four 
feet thick: fire-clay and soft shales, with iron-stones, fifteen feet; argillaceous 
(claye)') limestone, one to two feet; dark drab clay shale, one foot; coal, four 
to five feet ; light colored fire-clay, two feet ; dark colored fire-clay, one foot ; 
soft, drab shale, with iron-stones, ten to fifteen feet; fossiliferous, black slaty 
shale, often pyritous, with many large iron-stone nodules, two to three feet. 

A considerable portion of the bowlders and pebbles of these beds, espe- 
cially those consisting of limestone and the metamorphic rocks, are finely 
polished and striated on one or more of their sides, showing the power of the 
forces which were engaged in their transportation from their original beds. 
Nuggets of galena (lead) and of native copper are occasionalh' met with, and 
have had the usual effect of exciting the imagination of those ignorant of the 
fact that the rocks which contain these metals do not occur nearer than the 
galena region of northern Illinois. 

The only rock formation in the county, practically speaking, is that of the 
"coal measure" already mentioned. The first uppermost vein of coal is cov- 
ered by a few feet of soil only. The limerock below it is very thinlj' lamin- 
ated, being mingled with much clay ; but the shales covering the next vein con- 
stitute a fair working roof. 

The sand iron-stones are interesting to the hunter of fossils, as thev con- 
tain numerous fragmentary remains of fishes, insects, etc. This fossil dis- 
trict extends along the Little \''ermillion to its mouth and down the Wabash. 
Outcrops of this strata are found along the chief streams throughout the entire 
county of Vermillion. 

In going up stream along the Big A^ermillion river, on its south bank, a 
mile below Eugene, a bluff t\\ enty to thirty feet high is of irregularlv bedded, 
highly ferruginous, coarse grained sand-stone, often containing plant remains, 
with some large fragments of trees, etc. Some of these beds are sufficientlv 
solid to make good building stones. In quarrying them many fine trunks ha\"e 
been found and the larger branches of leipodendron and sigillaria. 

Wells sunk below Perrvs^'ille, below the limestone rock, ninetv feet, have 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 23I 

exposed no traces of coal, but coal is found at no great distance, owing to the 
sudden dips in the geological strata. In general terms, it may be said that 
most all of Vermillion county is underlaid with a good liuality of soft coal. 
A total estimate of eight feet would probably cover the thickness of coal 
underneath this county — a wonderful mine of wealth for generations yet un- 
born ! The chapter on Mines and Mining in this work will treat the vast coal 
mining interests. 

The principal iron ore found within Vermillion county is an impure car- 
bonate, occurring in nodules and irregular layers of sands. Once, these were 
shipped to a furnace at Brouillet's Creek, where they yielded thirty-three per 
cent, of iron ore. The ore here averages from twenty to thirty per cent. 
Along the Norton creek bottoms, near the head of Kelt's prairies, a bed of 
bog-iron, about three feet thick and extending over an area of about eight 
acres, has been discovered in the last thirty years. Zinc blende is also found 
in small i|uantities. Its a])pearance, at an early day. on the Little \'erniillion 
river, gave rise to the so-called "silver mine." 

The second bottoms, or terraces in Vermillion county, in order from the 
north are named Walnut Mound, Eugene or Sand, Newport and Kelt's. The 
soil is a black sandy loam, producing the richest and most paying crops. These 
terraces comprise aljout three-tenths of the entire count}-, and are from thirty- 
five to sixty-five feet above low-water mark, while the higher portions of the 
county are from two hundred and fifty to two hundred and seventy feet above 
low-water. 

Professor Collett, in his 1880 report, says: "Remains of the mammoth 
have been discovered in nearly all sections of Indiana. They have consisted, 
as a rule, of the most compact bones of these animals, as the teeth, tusks, jaws 
and thigh bones. Some of the best preserved teeth of the mammoth were 
found in the counties of Vigo, Parke, ^'ermi!lion, \\'ayne. Putnam and \"an- 
derburg." 

CONCERNING THE FORESTS. 

Eighty-five per cent, of the area of Indiana was originally heavily foi'- 
ested. The prairie district occupied a small portion of the northwestern part 
of the state. In this part the timber was confined principally to the low lands. 
In all parts of the state the timber has been cut for lumber and to clear the 
farm land, until now only twenty per cent, of the original forest, seventeen 
per cent, of the total area of the state, remains. The cutting off of the forests 
of the state has had a great influence on the drainage. When the forests were 
slill intact, the fallen lca\cs. mold and shade tended to rt'tain the surplus water 



232 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

during the rainy seasons, and this water, given out gradually, tended to 
equalize the stream flow. Floods were less common then. Now the sys- 
tematic drainage of the land causes the water, during the rainy seasons, to flow- 
directly into the stream. Thus the streams are flooded during the wet weather 
and soon dry up after the rains cease. This condition is especially true of 
the portion of the state south of the Wisconsin glacial boundary. In the Wis- 
consin glacial area the sand and gravel deposits serve to some extent the same 
purpose as the leaves, mold and shade of the previously forested area of the 
unglaciated region. The effect of the removal of the forests is shown by the 
remains of old water-mill sites, on small streams which are now drv for more 
than half the year. Many of these small power mills were run continuously 
fifty years ago. These power sites are now impractical except where im- 
mense storage basins can be constructed. Charles R. Van Hise in the United 
States government reports on Conservation, says : ''It is estimated bv AIcGee 
that, by injudicious farming and deforestation, the water table has been low- 
ered in the eastern part of the United .States by from ten to forty feet. In- 
deed he estimates that the shallow wells and springs in this part of the country, 
at least three-fourths, have failed. The springs ha\-e dried up: the small 
brooks have ceased to flow: the, wells ha\c lieen sunk to lower levels. 

"In this matter we have an exceptional situation with reference to water 
which is somewhat analogous to that of minerals. \\'e are using the supplies 
of the past and not restoring an equal amount. This we are doing to some 
extent because of our present need: but also more wells are drilled in many 
artesian districts than arc necessary : and when thev are not in use, which is 
often the larger part of the year, the water from them is allowed to run off 
freely. Usually it is not realized that such waste lessens the head and makes 
available a smaller amount of water when it is again needed. This waste of 
underground water is analogous to the waste of natiu-al gas. Strange as it 
may appear, waste of this kind is allowed to continue not onl\- in humid 
regions where water is not appreciated, but in arid regions where it is at such 
fundamental importance. Such waste should Ije prohibited bv la\\ and the law- 
should pro\-ide means of enforcement. 

"Already strict laws exist in a number of states of the West : this is il- 
lustrated by California. It is clear that laws preventing the waste of water 
are constitutional upon substantially the same grounds as are the laws with 
reference to the waste of natural gas. This is clearlv indicated bv decisions 
which have been rendered in the various courts. 

"It is important to get into the ground a sufiicient amount of water, so 
that the water table will be maintained at a conx'enient depth. This is es- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 233 

pecially important in the arid and semi-arid regions, for there often the under- 
ground water is the only certain source of this element for domestic purjxises 
and for irrigation. 

"On a much wider scale increasing the proportion of jirecipitation which 
goes under ground, may be accomplished by covering the earth with vegeta- 
tion, by contour plowing, and b}' culti\ating in such a manner as to leave a 
rough surface." 

The whole of this question simply shows the opinion of an expert upon 
the subject of the conservation of water. The last paragraph is applicable to 
Indiana and to Vermillion and Parke counties. It is indeed astDuishing to 
notice the poor grade of farming carried on in man)- parts of this state. Fields 
are left absolutely bare for a whole summer and for many years. Such fields 
not only drain off most of the water which falls upon them, but the hard 
crust causes the evaporation of the underground water to lie much greater. 
Upon such fields even a rank growth of weeds is a blessing, except for the 
seeds which they produce. One of the secrets of successful farming in this 
state is the power of the farmer to properly handle the ground water under his 
land. When every farmer understands the secret of conserving ground water 
and puts the knowledge to practical use. the dry well and intermittent spring 
problems will be greatlv lessened and the facilities for water-power will be 
somewhat increased. 

Then, from all that has been observed, it will pay to save the remaining" 
forests and conserve the water, both upon and underneath the fertile soil of 
Indiana. 

' "That old familiar tree. 

Whose glory and renown 
Are spread o'er land and sea — 

And woulds't thou hew it down.^ 
Woodman forbear thy stroke! 

Cut not its earth-bound ties ; 
Oh, spare that aged oak 

Now towering to the skies !" 

CL.VYS OF \i:KMir.I.IO.V COIWTV. 

The entire coal measure of this and adjoining counties is underlaid with 
a verj' superior grade of clay, including that suitable for pottery and fire- 
brick. White settlers first began to use this clav in this ixirtion of the state. 
for making "stone-ware." By 1840 this had grown to be a large industry. It 



234 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

then went down largely and by 1853 but little was made use of. Efforts were 
made then to utilize the shales and clays again. At Hillsdale and at Monte- 
zuma, Parke county, several plants were erected for making fire-clay goods 
for refractory purposes, in the construction of furnaces, crucibles, flues and 
generally where heat resistance is sought. At Montezuma, too, a clay roofing 
tile factory was operated. In 1S90 the clay industry again took on new life, 
and four large plants at and near Montzuma and one at Clinton were estab- 
lished. The business up and down the Wabash, in these two counties, is now 
largely interested in tile. 



CHAPTER II. 



PRE-HISTORIC AND INDIAN RACES. 



Perliap.s nu lietter, relialjle accounl of the Mound Builders and Indians 
who lived, labored and died within tlie domain now known as \'ennillion 
county can l)e given, at this date, than that prepared from facts compiled by 
that student and correct writer, Hon. John Collett. hence the following de- 
scriptions of those who inhabited the country pri(jr to the coming of the white 
race, should be credited largely to him, and as he was the slate geologist and 
in a position to know whereof he wrote, it will be taken as nearly true as 
mortal man can now hope to arrive at conclusions draw n b\ him and made a 
j)art of the state's record. 

When first explored by the w hite race, this county was occupied by savage 
Indians, without fixed habitation, a\"erse to labor and delighting only in war 
and the chase. Their misty traditions did not reach back to any pre\ious 
people or age, but numerous earth-works are found in this region of such ex- 
tent as to require for their construction much time and the persistent labor of 
many people. Situated on river blulYs, their location combines pictures(|ue 
scenery, adaptability for defense, convenience for transportation by w ater, and 
productive lands. These are not requisites in the nomadic life of red-men, and 
identify the Mound Builders as a partially civilized people. Their mounds 
and other works are of such extent that it required years of lalmr. with basket 
and shoN-el. to erect such coordination of labor as to indicate the rule of jiriest- 
ly government or regal authority; they were certainly to that extent civilized. 
Their work in its vastness shows that governments were necessary, which 
must ha\-e had civil power to request and require the necessary labor. The 
implements found in the graves, mounds and tonil)s were more c^flen domestic 
and agricultural, and indicate a peaceful, ol)edient race. Their temples w'ere 
defended by bulwarks of loving hearts rather than by warrior braves. Many 
of the religious emblems and articles of utility made of stone point back to the 
earliest forms of sentiment represented by the fire and sun worshipers of cen- 
tral .'Xsia and give a clue to the reason why their favorite habitations and 
mounds were as a rule never placed beneath the eastern liluffs of streams. 1)ut 
on the other hand were so located in elevated positions, (jt on the western 



236 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

bluffs, that when the timber was cleared away and the lands reduced to culti- 
vation, a long- outlook was given to the east and to the sun rise, from which 
direction their expected Messiah, or ruler, was to come. Similar customs still 
prexail in Mexico. 

Traditions intimate that the tribes were driven southward, from the north- 
ern portion of the continent, and these traditions are corroborated by the dis- 
covery of relics in this region made from material found far to the north. 

Clusters of mounds are found in A'ermillion county, on Mound prairie, 
near the Shelby battle ground and nearl}- all along the track between Eugene 
and Newport, many of them from twenty to forty feet in diameter, four, five 
or six feet high, and the clusters containing from ten to eighty mounds. One 
memorable mound is situated in the northern part of the city of CHnton, fmni 
which earth was removed for road building about 1830. In it were found 
stone implements of the Mound Builders accompanied with copper beads, fi\-e 
copper rods, half an inch in diameter and eighteen inches long, showing that 
it was one of the earliest of the Mound Builders works, while the>- were also 
accompanied with other implements imported from the north. 

Another, on the Head farm, near Newport, had copper rods, or spear- 
heads and smaller stone implements. These were probably l)urial grounds. 
A majority of them contained no relics, but were simpl\' al^andoned mounds 
of habitation. Mr. Pigeon, in his volume called "Dacoudah," says he no- 
ticed figured mounds of men and beasts on the south bank of the Little \'er- 
million. three or four miles from its mouth. .\ burial mound, near the north- 
east corner, contained a chief in a sitting position, in the center. Radiating 
from his body, like the spokes of a wheel, were fi\'e persons, slaves or wives, 
to wait upon him in the other world. His useful implements for the other 
world were a great number of copper l>eads from a lialf inch to an inch and a 
quarter in diameter, seven copper axes, one of which contained unmelted vir- 
gin silver, as it occurs at Lake Superior, varying in weight from two to eight 
pounds, and seven copper rods (spear heads), with pots and crocks, contain- 
ing black mold, as if it were food. The streams near their homes afforded fish 
for food, and the implements found indicated that they were skilled in hand- 
ling fish spears and gigs. The soil surrounding their homes was always the 
choicest, with the addition of beautiful and engaging scenery. The relics 
found in their mounds show that in their more northern home, in Wisconsin, 
Minnesota and ]\Iichigan. the common northern material, the striped slate and 
copper, was abundant. In Vermillion county relics of this character were 
scarce and precious, if not holy. At more southern points, striped slate im- 
plements of northern stone are very rare, while the precious copper could no 



PARKE AND VERMII.LIOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 237 

longer be used in implemeiU niakiii.i;-, but was lieateu intn ihe linesl ol sbccts 
and bent over ornauieutal pendants. AH these, and the customs of their bur- 
ial, indicate an Asiatic origin, and prove conclusively that in their migration 
to this region they passed by more northern regions, including Lake Superior. 

Afterwards the northern barbarian came, of an intermediate race, betw cen 
the Mound Builder and the red man. The Mound Builders were driven away 
bv this irruption, their property seized, many of their wives made captives and 
adopted by the new people. Many of the customs of the old people conse- 
quentlv remained with the newcomers, and the latter also deposited their dead 
in the old mounds over the remains of the more ancient people. The number 
of individuals thus found buried together, number from five to two or three 
thousand. Their graves and relics from the tombs are the only story of their 
lives. Throughout all these a deep spirit of religious de\otion is indicated, as 
well as the belief in the existence of another world and that imjilements of a 
domestic nature were necessary to the comfort of the departed. 

On the Moore farm, three miles northwest of Eugene, jNIr. Zeke Shew ard, 
in making an underground "dug-out" for the storing of vegetables, on a small 
mound surrounded by giants of the original forest, found at the depth of three 
feet, and at least one foot below the surface of the surrounding soil some 
pieces of metal about the size of a teaspoon handle, and one coin. On analysis 
thev were found to be made of lead, antimony, and tin. The coin had in relief 
easily identified figures, of a worshiped crocodile of Egyj^t, or a holy water 
dog of America, and wood characters, much resembling those of China, or 
Hindostan. Prof. W. D. Whitney, of Yale College, one of the most thorough 
linguists of America, believed the characters to be .\rabic, but of so ancient a 
date that the Oriental Society was unable to read them. The director of the 
Briti,sh Museum, in London, determined them to be ancient Hindostanee, but 
of so early a date no scholar in England could read them. Trees, and their 
remains, indicate an age of more than two thousand years. 

In March, iS8o, while a companv of gravel road workers were excavating 
gravel from the bank on the ridge at the southwest corner of the Xewi)ort 
fair ground, five human skeletons were found, supposed to he the remains of 
Indians buried at that point at an early da\-. In the gravel bank along the 
railroad, at the southeast corner of the fair ground, another skeleton was 
found. No implements of war were found w ith the bones, but ashes were per- 
ceivable, which would indicate that they were the remains of Tmlians. .\fter 
burying the dead it was their custom in some parts of the country to build a 
fire over the corpse. Many of the skeletons thus discovered, as well as a large 
l)ortion of the bones of the lower animals, on exposure to the air, crumble 



238 PARKE AND VERMIIXION COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

away so easily that it becomes impossible to preserve them for exhibition. 
A collection of a dozen skeletons shows by measurements of the thigh- 
bones found that the warriors, including a few women, averaged over six feet 
and two inches in height. Without animals for transportation, their bones 
were made wonderfully strong b}- the constant carrying of heavy burdens, 
and their joints heavily articulated, and the trochanters forming the attach- 
ment of muscles show that they were not only a race of giant statute, but also 
of more than giant strength. 

]\lan\ relics from these mounds, as well as from the surface of the earth 
elsewhere, have l)een collected by old resident physicians, and others, especially 
Prof. John Collett, late state geologist, and Josephus Collett, and an interest- 
ing museum mav here and there be found presenting a great variety of arrow- 
points, spear heads, stone axes, tomahawks, pestles, mortars, aboriginal pot- 
terv. pipes, ornaments, bones of Indian skeletons, etc. 

INDIAN OCCUPANCY OF THE COUNTY. 

At the ad\ent of the white man to the Wabash valley the Indians had 
virtually ceased from their long warfare and were living in a quiet state. They 
had no villages or places of permanent residence. In the summer time they 
remained at one point and in the autumn and winter elsewhere. They lived in 
wigwams made of deer skins and buffalo robes, which could be easily re- 
moved from place to place, or be substituted by others made from the bark of 
trees. The first white settlers saw all along the banks of the creeks and rivers 
circular holes in which Indians had cooked their food, and at night would 
sleep upon the ground with their feet hanging down in the warm places made 
there in the manner described. The \\'aba.sh ri\er was by them called Wah- 
bashshikka: bv the French. Ouabache; the Vermillion was called Osanamon, 
but bv the French, a name which signifies yellow, red or vermillion. after- 
wards translated into English as Yellow river. 

The Miamis occupied a portion of what is now Vermillion count}', but 
their general territory was east of the Wabash. They were a tall, straight 
race, of handsome countenance, especially the maidens, and were brave and 
terrible as enemies, kind and faithful as friends. 

Then there were the Kickapoos, or Mosquitans, originally from the 
north and northwest, who occupied the regions south and southwest of the Big 
Vermillion river, but occasionally, by comity of neighbors, camped for a 
greater part of the time north of the Vermillion, on their neighbor's territory. 
The Pottawatomies, also a northern tribe, owned the territory and their rights 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COITNTIES, INDIANA. 239 

were recognized by the govcrnnK'iit in treaties. Vermillion county was at that 
time and had been for some years the home of each tribe, who at the zenith 
of their power had their headquarters at the Big Springs, a half mile south of 
Eugene, and the place was known among the whites as Springfield. There the 
councils of their confederacy were held and decisions as to wars and other 
troubles adjusted. The great treaty with the British merchants was made, 
and the governor of \'irgina took possession of immense tracts of land on the 
lower Wabash. Many of the early settlers recollected the meetings held there, 
comprising eight hundred to one thousand individuals. The Pottawatomies 
were of a somewhat subdued disposition, somewhat stoop-shouldered and of 
unpleasant countenance ; on the other hand, the Kickapoos were a warlike 
race, quarreled some with all other tribes, and only happv when giving and 
receiving hard blows. 

It is believed that the French missionaries passed down or up the Wa- 
bash as early as 1702. possibly two years earlier than that. The missionaries, 
being Jesuits, were successful in winning converts among the savages. Near 
the Indian village on section \(). township 17. range 9 west, on cutting down 
a white oak tree, the rings of grow th over the scar made h\ a white man's axe 
showed that the incision was made not later than 1720. 

It was about 1790 when General Hamtramck led his expedition of Indian 
volunteers and militia from Vincennes to attack the non-aggressive Indians 
and their \illage on the old Shelby farm, near the mouth of the Vermillion. 
These were the weakened remnants of the now almost extinct Pottawatomies 
and Kickapoos. This was their favorite camping ground, the confluence of 
the rivers giving them opportunities for taking fish, which were then \erv 
plentiful. The terrace lands above were filled with thousands of plum bushes 
and grape \'ines, and it was known as the "great plum patch." The exjiedi- 
tion, in two columns, crossed the Indian ford at Eugene, just north of where 
the mill dam was later constructed. Thence they marched in a circuitous 
manner to attack the village in the rear, when the direct division should attack 
* it at the same time from the south. The warriors and braves were ofif on a 
hunting expedition, and there were none to molest or make afraid the "gal- 
lant" soldiers, except the broken down old men, the women and the children. 
It is no wonder that later on the Indians of this region took part in the battle 
of Falling Timbers and Tippecanoe. 

La Chappelle is the name of the first trading post established in the \'er- 
million village, near Hamtramck's battle ground, the northwest quarter of sec- 
tion 33, township 18. range 9 west, by M. Laselle. afterwards for many years 
one of the distinguished citizens of Logansport. this state. Another trading 



24P PARKE AND \ERMIJ.LION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

post was subsequently established by an Englishman on the John Collett farm. 
sections 9 and 16. It was the custom of the French traders here to strike 
small medals, in size less than a silver c[uarter of a dollar, with a few figures 
and initial letters upon them, and tack them upon the trees at the mouths of 
the iriljutaries claimed, as a sign of possession. 

The Indians at the southern end of this county did their trading at 
stockades in Sullivan and Kno.x counties. Among the earliest traders were 
two brothers, Frenchmen, named Brouillet. For some reason the Indians of 
that region entertained a strung enmity toward one of the brothers. He was 
captured and brought to 'their village, near the mouth of a creek south of 
Clinton, that now bears his name. At once it was decided to burn him at the 
stake, and to the stake he was fastened with buckskin thongs. After the men 
had ceased talking", the squaws, according to Indian custom, had a right to be 
heard. An aged squaw, who had had a son killed in warfare, demanded the 
right to adopt the prisoner as a substitute for her lost son, and whilst the 
privilege was generally granted, on this occasion the demand was refused, 
although she pleaded earnestly and long. In her wild but heroic determina- 
tion, she seized a butcher knife and, before anyone could interfere, cut the 
prisoner loose, pointed to a canoe on the sand shore of the Wabash, and told 
him to run and save his life if he could. He did run. Pushing the canoe out 
into the water as far as possible, and giving it directive force toward the 
middle of the river he sprang aljoard and. lying flat in its bottom, paddled it 
into the stream beyond the reach of the Indians' rifles and escaped. This inci- 
dent gave the stream the name of Brouillet's creek. 

The Brouillets took wives from the Miami tribe. The wife of the elder 
Brouillet belonged to the family in the line of promotion to the chieftainship. 
On his death the mother returned to her people, and the children were en- 
titled, according to law, to their proper home and position among her people. 
Her eldest son grew up an enthusiastic and vigorous young man, and became 
one of the chiefs of the Miamis. He was equitable in his dealings, energetic 
in his duties, and a great commander. His prudence ser\-ed in a great meas- 
ure to settle any difficulties with his white neighbors, who were constantly 
encroaching upon his territory and often inflicting injustice upon his people. 
Frequently, the young men desired to avenge their wrongs, but he was able 
to prevent the butchering episodes of Indian warfare and retaliation. 

Joseph Collett, Sr., after surveying through the then swampy grounds of 
Hendricks and Montgomery counties, found that his camp was without pro- 
visions, and all. including himself, were more or less sick. On the return 
march of Gen. William Henry Harrison's armv to Fort Harrison, now the 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 24I 

cit)' of Terre Haute, he directed the otliers to iio and secure food, and leave 
him on the hank of the Raccoon creek in a httle tent. L hief Brouillet came to 
him, offered his services to kill game and to dress and cook it, and tenderly 
care for him, which he did as well as could a woman. Fifty years later. Mr. 
Collett could only recall the experience and scene with tears in his eyes, and 
declared Chief Brouillet was one of the best looking men that ever trod the 
hanks of the \\'ahash. and that he was as kind hearted as he was hra\e. 

GENERAL IIARRISON's MARCH TO TIPPEC.\NOE. 

In the march to Tippecanoe the Confederate Indians had prepared an 
ambuscade for Harrison's army at the narrow pass between the hioh, rocky 
bluffs and the Wabash river, at Vicksburg, near Perrys\ ille. The army 
forded the river near Montezuma and marched u]) on the west side of the 
river and thus avoided that ambuscade. They crossed the Little Vermillion, 
near the railroad bridge of later years, passed up the hollow just back of 
where-Joseph Morehead later settled. Remnants of their corduruy road and 
bridge might have been seen a quarter of a century later. On that march the 
useless shooting of a gun was prohibited, and even loud talking, under pen- 
alty of death. Judge Naylor, of Crawfordsville. who w as one of the volun- 
teers, tells the incident that on Oak Island, on S. S. Collett's farm, a fright- 
ened deer jumjied o\er the outer rank of men, and finding himself penned in. 
ran in various directions, over the enclosed space, and although the soldiers 
needed fresh meat they were not [lermitted to shoot the ;iniiiial. It was al- 
lowed to get away in safety. On the two spring branches, on the John Col- 
lett farm, sections 9 and 16, corduroy roads were to be seen as late as 1S90. 

The army marched as close to the river bank as possible, for the protec- 
tion of the pirogues and keel-boats, which carried corn for their horses and 
provisions for the men. Spies reported that on account of low water further 
navigation was impracticable at Coal Creek bar. The boats were landed on 
the Collett farm, near the later-day ferry known as Gardner's Ferrv. It was 
determined to build a stockade on the farm of the late J. W. Porter, at a point 
known as Porter's eddy, and that it should partially overhang the river, so as 
to protect the boats and their stores. Such a fort could usualK' ha\e been 
built in one day, but in the bustle and hurry of handling thev lost half their 
axes in the water. One of these was a long time afterwards found, and it 
was considered curious that a new axe, unused and mounted with an unused 
handle, sh.ould be found there, until Judge Xaylor exjilained the fact that 
manv axes w ere there lost on the occasion ju.st mentioned, while the men w ere 
(16) 



242 PARKE AND VERillLLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

busily engaged in Ijuilding tlie stockade. Persons were still living in iS<jo, in 
this count}', who rememlier seeing portions of this old stockade. 

The Kentuckians and the mounted rifle men recruited their horses on the 
rich l)lue grass ])astures. in the river \-alle\- bottoms, on the Porter and Col- 
lett farms. 

A sergeant and eight men were left to guard the stockade, .\bout seven 
days afterward a wild looking soldier returned, reporting a disastrous battle 
at Tippecanoe, the defeat and de.struction of the whole armw and that he alone 
was left to tell the stoiy : that the\- must quickl\- destroy the post and retreat to 
a safe place. The sergeant's reply was. "1 was ordered to liold this post: 1 
shall do so. .\nd as for vou. deserter and coward. m\- men will put \'ou u])on 
the ridge-pole of the stockade, and tie vnur feet together. If tlic Indians 
come you will catch the first bullet and shall l)e the first to die. We will die 
at our ])ost of duty." 

The army marched through the ])rairie region, west of Perr\s\ille. to 
where State Line \'il!age now stands, and near which ])]ace tliev passed the 
north boundary of this county, and from which point the line of niari'li and 
camping places has alread\- l)een described. 

Major James Blair and Judge J. M. Coleman settled on section \(k be- 
tween Eugene and Newport, before the land in that region was ofifered for 
sale by the go\ernment. The prairie was known as Little X'ermillion. or 
Coleman's jjrairie. These two men had always been pioneers. P>lair had been 
one of the heroes of Perr\-'s \-ictories on Lake Erie, and later held conspicu- 
ous positions of honor and trust in the coniniunit\- and state; but at this time 
he and Coleman were peace-makers between the Indians, whose confidence 
they had. and they knew that Indians, if ]iroiierl\- treated, could be trusted. 

Se-Seep, or See-Sheep, a small, l)ow-legged. stoop-shouldered, white- 
haired man a hundred and ten years old, was chief of the Pottawatomies and 
their allied Kicka])Oos. Their territory ranged from the Little \'erniillion to 
Pine creek, including the north half of \'ermillion county, all of Warren and 
the west half of Eountain. Se-Seep had been a gallant fighter in the defense 
of bis peo])le and country at the battle of b'allen Timbers ( Wayne's \ictorv). 
and afterwards in the terrible defeat of his ])eople at Tijipecanoe. Brave and 
heroic in battle, after signing the treaties of ])eace w ith the -\merican authori- 
ties, he was faithful and trustwortln- and finally liecame a reliable friend of 
the white peojile. He became the hero of a serio-comic incident wherein 
Xoah Hubl)ard. who settled on Indian lands where Cayuga now stands, be- 
came the butt of ridicule. Hubbard was culti\ating a portion of a ten-acre 
tract. One da\- the Indians crossed at the Arm\' I'ord and '"stole" roasting 



PARKK AND \F.RM II.I.ION COl'NTIKS, INDIANA. 243 

ears and squashes as rental. Ilnliliard fmind Se-Seep with soine ears ot corn 
an<l two squashes in the folds of hi.^ lilankel. and he undertonk to castigate the 
chief with a cane. Se-Seep did not scare, hut, dropping the \cgeta1)les and 
corn, chased Huhl)ard out of the field with a stick. Then Huhhard went to 
Blair and Coleman and demanded thai the\- should call oiU the Rangers and 
the luounted ririenien. declaring tliat the Indians were destroying his pro[> 
■ ert\', and that they should he dealt with and jjunished. They refused to call 
out the Rangers, hut said he might notify them to assemhle at their house the 
next morning. He did so, and the ne.xt morning some of the riflemen also 
assemhled and commenced ^.hooting at a mark. The Indians had camped for 
the night, a mile to the north, at the famous Buf-falo Sjjrings. I'lair intro- 
duced to the Indians the matters of diftereuce. anrl concluded to ha\e an imi- 
tation Indian pow -wow . .\ccordingi\". he an<l Coleman, who had ])een chosen 
as arhitrators, rejiaired to ;■. plum thicket, with a well-worn Testament, a 
wooden-coxered siielling hook, a dilapidrUed almanac and a remnant of an old 
law l>ook, as authorities. Here the\ held a sham comt, chattering gihherish 
and gesticulating like lndi;ms, ;md fiualK rendei'ed the following verdict: 
That the two litigants settle the whole matter hy a fist fight. The decision 
was no sooner announced than the little old Indian chief, who was dressed 
only with a Iilanket-helt, threw it off and made rapidly for Huhhard. Of 
course the latter ran as fast as he could, mounted his i)on\ and was soon out 
of sight. The Indians, who are scarceh' e\er known to laugh, indulged 
heartily on this occasion. 

Se-Seej) was fiuall\- murdered in a foul manner at Xehuker's .Springs, 
l-'ountain comUy, at the age of one huudreil and ten \ears, Iw a lazv. \icious 
Indian named Xannupia. lie had a splendid son, who, at the age of sex'en- 
teen years, was killed hy falling fift\- feet from a tree, while fighting a hear, 
ne.ar the residence of lohn Colletl. 

.\lthough n(.i hattles or skirmishes in connection with the war of 1S12 
took ])lace in this comity, the "\ einiillion countrx" w ,is twn cir three limes 
crossed hy helligerents. I'rom a cii])\ of (leu. jnhn Tipton's inurnal it is 
learned: Tipton was an illiterate m;in. hut a daring fighter, and in the aiUumn 
of 181 1 he, as a pri\ate in Ca])tain Spencer's Harrison County RiHemeii, iour- 
neyed from Corxflon, that county, down the Wahash to Fort Harrison, four 
miles north of Terie Haute, ;ind up the same stream again, in the Indian cam- 
paign which ended in the hloody hattle of Ti])pecanoe. The compain- com- 
jirised forty-seven men, hesides otificers, and these were joined In- Captain 
Heath and twenty-two men. In going flown the river they guarded a keel- 
hoat of provisions for Camp Harrison, and concerning this trip it niav he 



244 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

quoted: "October 6. — We mo\ed early; one mile came to the ri\er at the 
coal bank; found it was below the \'ei-niillion half a mile: we took cotifee; 
moved after the boat started down. The coal bank is on the east side of the 
Wabash. We went through a small i^rairie: crossed the river to the west 
side ; went in on the head of a bar and came out on the low er end of another 
on the west side; went through a small prairie, then came to a big prairie, 
where the old \'ermillion town was. We crossed the \\"abash half a mile 
above the Vermillion ri\'er's mouth, before we came to the abo\-e town. 
Crossed the X'ermillion ri\er, took a south course through timbered land, and 
then through a prairie with a good spring and an old Indian hut. then through 
a beautiful timbered ground to a small creek, and stopped to let our horses 
graze ; then went through a good land with a ridge on our right out of which 
came four springs, and for two miles nothing but large sugar and w-alnut. 
The hill and the ri\er came close together. We found a good coal bank 
fourteen miles 1)eow Vermillion. We then crossed to the east side, went three 
miles and camped with the boat; after coming twent\- miles and finding two 
bee trees, left them." 

.\n entry was made on the 31st as follows : 

"We moved early. Two of the oxen missing. Three of our men sent to 
hunt for them. We crossed Raccoon creek. Saw our men who went to 
guard the boats on the 29th; they left us. We came to the river where we 
camped on our return from Vermillion on the night of the 6th : thence up to 
the ford. Saw our boat guard just crossing the ri\er. We halted till the 
army came up. then rode the river, which was very deep, then camped. Our 
boat-guard and the men who went to hunt the oxen came u]). when we left 
the guards. We took a north course up the east side of the Wabash, crossed 
to the west, with orders to kill all the Indians we saw. Fine news! The gov- 
ernor's wagon was left this morning in conse(|uence of the oxen being lost. 
All the army crossed in three hours. We drew corn. 

"Friday. November i — I was sent with eighteen men to look for a way 
for the army to cross Little Vermillion. Marched at daybreak ; came to the 
creek : found and marked the road ; waited till the armv came up ; went on 
and camped on the river two miles below the Big \^ermillion ; Captain Silencer, 
myself and three others went up the Big \'ermillion ; returned to camp. Gen- 
eral \\'ells, with fort}- men. and Captain Berry, with nine men. had come up. 
Our camp marched in front today, as usual, which nt)w consisted of thirty- 
seven men. in conseipience of Captain Berry and Lindley l)eing attached to it. 

"Saturday. November 2. — A fine day. Captain Spencer, with ten men, 
went out on a scout. Our company not ])arading as usual, the Governor 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 245 

threatened tn l)ri-ak the ofticers. 1 staid in ramp. The army staid liere to Imild 
a block lumse on the bank of the \Val)ash three miles l)elo\\ Vermillion, in a 
small prairie. The house t\venty-fi\-e feet square, and a breastwork from each 
corner next the ri\er down to the w ater. Took horses and drew brush over 
the prairie to break down the weeds. This eNenini; a man came from the 
garrison; said last night his boat was fired upon. One man, who was asleep, 
was killed. Three boats came up, unloaded: went back, taking a sick man 
with them. One of Captain Bobb's men died tonight." 

"Sunday, the 3d. — A cloudy day. We mo\ed eaii\ . ( )ur company 
marched on the right wing today. Crossed the big N'ermillion. through a 
prairie six miles, through timber, then through a wet prairie with groves of 
timber in it," etc. 

Thus has been quoted all of (leneral Tipton's journal that ])ertains to 
the march through Vermillion county. I'nder date of November 7. iSi 1. be 
gives an account of the battle of Tijipecanoe. in a paragrajih scarcelv longer 
than the average of his journal, as if unaware that this action was of any 
greater importance than an insignificant skirmish. Tipton was promoted from 
rank to rank until he w^as finally made general. His orthography, punctuation, 
etc.. were so bad we conclude not to follow it in the above extracts, save in a 
few cases, like spelling "staid." 

Nearly every entry in his daily journal not quoted opens with the state- 
ment that the weather is very cold. He also makes occasional reference to 
the soldiers drawing their rations of whisky, from one to four quarts at a time. 
In Harrison's march to Tippecanoe his l)oals (pirogues) could not |)ass 
Coal Creek bar, spoken of above, under date of Octol)er 31st. and for their 
protection he built a stockade fort at the bead of Porter's edd\ . the ])reci,se 
location being the northeast quarter of section 1;. township 17. range (> west. 
Here he left the sergeant and ten men to guard them. The remains of the 
hea\y timbers were still to be jilainly ol)ser\ed in iN^o. Corduroy or ])ole 
bridges, buried in mud, might have been seen in iSyo. on the spring branches 
on the farms of Hon. John Collett, S. S. Collett and the Head familv. sec- 
tions 9 and 15. township 17, range g west. General 1 larris(jn .ilsci had caches 
I places for the safe keeping and hiding of food) in this cdunlN along the 
Wabash. 

According to the treaties, General I burison made a ]nirchase for the 
government, the northern line of which, west of the Wabash, extended from a 
point directly opposite the mouth of the big Raccoon creek northwesterly. 
This tract was opened for white settlement long before the southern portion 
of the county was. which remained in the possession of the Kickapoos and 
Pottaw atomies for a few^ years longer. 



CHAPTER III. 



THK FIKST WHITE SETTLHMEN T. 



The (late uf the first settlement hy whi'e men in \'ermilhon county was 
1816. The location was the southeast corner of section 9, township 14. range 
9 west, where John \'annest and a man named Hunter, who was by occupa- 
tion also a hunter, had \-entured west of the Wabash to select land for making 
a permanent home. This ]3oint was about a mile north of where now stands 
the thriving city of Clinton. Here they halted first for the night. Hunter .soon 
secured a deer, which he killed, and thus they were provided with a fine su])- 
per. In the morning, after gazing about for a few minutes only. Mr. X^annest 
decided that that would be as good a location as he would prnbal)ly find. Then 
he returned to his temporary home at Fort Harrison, four miles north of 
present Terre Haute, and waited a short time for the day of the government 
land sales to arrive at Vincennes. He then entered three-quarters of section 
I), and later purcha.sed the other (piarter of the same section nf William Bales. 
This land is on the second !)ottom. \cry high and beautifully undulating, but 
was originallv heavily covered with excellent timber. Had he gone a little 
further to the north he would have discovered a beautiful little jjrairie. which 
would be land already cleared for him; but this point was either unknown to 
him. ov else it was too near, or even o\er. the line between the government 
land and that of the Indians, .\gain, at that day it was a tpiestion in the 
minds of settlers as to whether the prairie lands could be profitably culti- 
vated an<l dwelt upon with safet\' and conifnrt the xear alxnit on account of 
the cold winds. 

On these finely situated lands nf timljer Mr. N'annest settled. bi-inging 
with him his w'ife and se\-eral children. I'.recting first a log cabin on the west 
side of his land, he occupied it for a lung period, when he built a large brick 
residence, from bricks he had made near by. This was X'ermillion county's 
first brick structiu"e. The brick-mason emjjloyed was a Air. Jones from near 
Newport. Years afterward this residence was considered unsafe and was 
torn down. 

The lands Mr. \"annest obtained remain mostly (or did a few vears 
since) in the name of his descendants, and it is a remarkable fact that from 



PARKE AND NI'.RM 1 1.KION LOLXTIE.S, INDIANA. 247 

tliis land no less than forty-live men entered the serviee of their country dnr- 
inj^- the threat Civil war from 1861 to i8()5 — a loyal spot indeed, .-nid its in- 
habitants all defenders of the "Stars and Stripes." 

John X'annest. jr.. .son of the first .settler \annest. was the hrsl white 
child horn in N'ermillion coimt\-. although it has l)een sometimes stated that the 
first was lion. William Skidniore, of Helt township. John X'annest. Sr., 
died at the age of sixty-two years on September _'S. iS4_>. and his wife Mary 
died Xngnst 29. 18J4, aged fortv-four \ears. l)oth being Iniiied in the ('linton 
cemeterx', north of town. ( )ne of their daughters. .Sarah, who became the 
widow of Scott Malone, wris the oldest woman resident of Clinton county in 
1881). and used to recall the time when the girls, as well as l)oys. had to "go 
to meeting" and to school barefooted, sometimes w;dking and other times 
going on horseback. The schools and religious services w ere held in the then 
popular log school house, with puncheon floor, mud-and-stick chimnex'. Hat 
rails for benches, a slab pinned u]) for a \\ riting desk, ;md greased paper for 
window s. 

.Mrs. Alalone and her twin sister, born .\ugust (). 1812, hence four years 
of age when the parents moved to X'ermillion countv, were remarkable from 
the fact that tliex' so iiearh- resem])led one another that e\en in womanhood 
one was mistaken for the other, e\-en \)\ their riwii children, flie twin sister 
was Jane, who married Thomas Kibliy, and died in .March, 1880. Records 
left by these w orth\- women have inaterialh' aided the present historian. 

.Mrs. X'annest bad two narrow escapes from death at the hands of the 
Indians. This came about as follows: Two white soldiers at Cam]> Harri- 
son became engaged in a (piarrel one day, and one of them, in attem])ting to 
shoot the other, carelessly missed his aim and killed an Inilian s(|uaw bevond. 
Tliereiipnii the red-skins vowed that they would kill the lirst "white scpiaw"' 
they saw who should cross to the west side of ilu' Wabash. Accordinglv, 
they watched their opportunity, and made two attempts to take the life of 
Mrs. \'annesl. In the first instance her life was sa\-ed b\- the tiiiiel\- inter- 
ference of a friendly Indian, .and the other time In the \ ioleiit interference of 
her relatives and friends. Soon after this her husband took her back to Fort 
Harrison, where she remained until the affair had been partialh- forgotten bv 
the Indians. 

The al)o\-e will suffice on the first settlement of this countw ;md this brief 
description will be followed u]) in the histories of the \arious lownshi])s. 



248 PARKE AND VERMILLION. COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

GREAT SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS. 

At an early day there were several circular ■'liunt>" or "drives. " The 
largest competitive chase held in the county lasted three months. Two leaders 
were chosen, who picked their men and divided the neighborhood into two 
parties for a compass of ten miles ; they were to bring in the scalps of the 
slain animals at the end of three months, and the leader who showed the most 
scalps could demand five gallons of the best whisky, as a treat from the beaten 
side. A wolf, fox, crow, coon, or mink scalp was to be considered equal to 
five other scalps in their value. A squirrel or chipmunk scalp counted one. 
On the appointed day the opposing forces assembled. The committees began 
to count the scalps, and the task took them until three o'clock in the afternoon, 
when it was announced that tliere were seventy thousand scalps. Thus by a 
general rivalry, the settlers enjoyed the execution of a plan which proved the 
means of safety and protection to their homes and their crops. 



CHAPTER IV. 

ORGANIZATION AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT. 

The territorx' coniiJrising present \'eniiillion cnunt\- is thirty-sexcn miles 
lon,o' from nortli to south and a\erages at>out se\en miles in w idth from ea.sf 
to west. It is bounded on the north by Warren county. Indiana, on the east 
by the Wabash river (Fountain and Parke counties), fni the south b\- \'\go 
county, and on the west by Edgar and Vermillion counties, in Illinois. 

Vermillion was originally a part of Vigo county. In 182 1 Vigo county 
was divided by the organization of Parke county, which comjjrised Vermillion 
as a part of it, and Roseville. on the Big Raccoon, was the county seat. In 
1823, by act of the Indiana Legislature. Parke county was rlivided by the 
Wabash river, the part west of the river being organized as ^'ermillion county 
and named from the rivers. For manv years the Big Vermillion river had 
been the boundar}- lietween the possessions of the Peaukeshaws on the south 
and the Kickapoos and Pottawatomies on the north, and during the period of 
ownership by France it was a part of the boundary between Canada and 
Louisiana. 

Vermillion county was created by an act of the General Assembly, ap- 
proved January 2, 1824. In order that it may be referred to as the genera- 
tions come and go, and being assured that it is authentic, as copied from the 
minutes and journals of the General Assembly of the state, the full text of 
the bill is here given, and reads as follows: 

''Section i. Be it enacted by the General Assembl\- of the state of In- 
diana, that from and after the first day of February next, all that part of the 
counties of Parke and Wabash included within the following bounds shall 
form a new county, that is to say: Beginning on the west bank of the 
Wabash river, where the township line dividing townships nuniljered 13 and 
14 north, of range 9 west, of the second principal meridian, crosses the same; 
thence west to the state line; thence north to the line dividing townships num- 
bered 19 and 20 north; thence east to the W^abash river: thence south with 
the meanders of said river to the place of beginning. 

"Section 2. The said new county shall, from and after the first da\- of 
February next, be known and designated by the name of the county of Yer- 



250 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

million, and it shall enjo\- all the rights and pri\ileges and jurisdictions which 
to a separate and independent county do or may properly belong or appertain; 
provided always, that all suits, pleas, plaints, actions and proceedings which 
may before the first day of March next have been commenced, instituted and 
pending within the county of Parke, shall be prosecuted to final judgment and 
effect in the same manner as if this act had not been passed: providing also, 
that the state and county taxes which are now due within the bounds of the 
said new county shall be collected and paid in the same manner and by the 
same officers as they would have been if the creation of the said new count}' 
had not taken place. 

■'Section 3. Robert Sturgis and Samuel Caldwell, of the county of 
\'igo; Moses Robbins, of Parke county: William Pugh, of Sullivan county, 
and William Mcintosh, of the county of Putnam, are hereby appointed com- 
missioners, agreeably to the act entitled ".Vn act for the fixing of the seats of 
justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off.' The commissioners above 
named, or a majority of them, shall convene at the house of James Blair, in 
the said new county of Vermillion. (.)n the first da\- of March next, and im- 
mediately proceed to discharge the duties assigned them l)y law. It is hereby 
made the duty of the sheriff of Parke county to notify said commissioners 
either in person or by written notice of their appointment, on or before the 
first day of February next: and the said sheriff of Parke count\- shall recei\e 
from said county of Vermillion such compensation therefor as the county 
commissioners of said new county of Vermillion shall deem just and reason- 
aljle : who are hereby authorized to allow the same out of moneys in the 
treasury of said county, not otherwise ap])ropriated. in the same manner as 
other allowances are made. 

"Section 4. The circuit court of the county of Vermillion shall meet at 
the house of James Blair, in the said new county of \'ermillion. until suitable 
accommodations can be had at the county seat: they _ shall adjourn their 
courts thereto, after which time the courts of said county shall be holden at 
the seat of justice of said county established by law: ])ro\ided always, that 
the circuit court shall have authority to adjourn the court from the house of 
James Blair as aforesaid, to any other place, pre\ious to the completion of the 
public buildings, should the said court or a majority of them deem it expedient. 

"Section 5. The lx)ard of county commissioners of the said countv of 
N'ermillion shall within six months after the permanent seat of justice of said 
county has been selected, proceed to erect the necssary ])ulilic l)uildings 
thereon. 

"Section 6. The agent who shall be api)ointed for the sales of lots at the 



I'ARKE AND VERM II.l.inN COl'NTIES, INDIANA. 25I 

seat of justice of said new county shall reserve and receive ten per centum 
out of tile proceeds of all donations made to said county, and also out of the 
proceeds of all sales made of lots at the count) seat of said county, and jjay 
the same ox'er to such person or persons as ma\' be appointed hy law to re- 
ceive the same, for the use of the count}' library for the said county of \'er- 
million, which shall pay over at such time and place as may be directed by 
law. 

"Section 7. 'I"he powers, privileges and authorities that are granted to 
tile qualified \oters of the county of Dubois and otliers named in the act en- 
titled 'An act incorporating a cnuiUv lil)rar\' in the cnunties therein named, 
appri)\ed January j8. 1818, to organize, support and conduct a county library, 
are herebx- granted to the qualified voters of the count}' of \ ermillion; and 
the same powers and authorities therein granted and the same duties therein 
re(|uired of the se\eral officers and [jcrsons elected li\ the cpialified voters of 
Dubois and other counties tlierein named, for the ]nu-pose of carr\ing into 
effect the provisit)ns of the act aforesaid, according to the true intent and 
meaning thereof, are hereb}' granted to and required t<i the officers, and other 
persons elected b} the (pialirted voters of X'ermillion cmuit}-. 

"Section 8. The said count}' of N'eniiillion shall lia\e both ci\il and 
criminal jurisdiction o\'er all the coniitr}' north of said countv, which is or 
may be included in ranges 9 and 10 west, to the northern boundarx' of the 
state. 

"Section 9. The said new comit}' of N'ermillioii shall be attaclietl t(i the 
counties of Farke and \'igo, for the purpose of electing representati\'cs to 
Congress, and to the same senatorial and representati\'e districts to which 
said c<uinties now belong, for the purpose of electing senators and representa- 
tives to the General Assembl} , and to the first return district for the pur])ose 
of returning \'otes for electors of President and \'ice-l'resident of the L'nited 
States." 

l-'or in excess of one }'ear \ ermillion coinit\ tliu> bad iurisdiction o\er 
more than a hundred miles of coutitr}' north and south, extending to Lake 
Michigan, within a few miles from the modern cit\' of Chicago, 

c'oi'xrv cox'i'.KX M I'.xr. 

In i8_'4 the coiuit} >eai was located at Xewport. wIktc it has always 
remained. It was then within little else than a wilderiu^. The locating 
commissioners were: Robert Sturgis. Samuel .M . Caldwell. William rn"'li 
and William Mcintosh, of adjoining counties. It is likely that a tifth com- 
missioner was appointed, but did not serx'e for some unknown reason. 



252 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

It is likely that the county seat was located at Newport on account of its 
central location, and also on account of the immense spring that gushed forth 
from the earth at that point. -Vgain, there was located a grist and saw-mill on 
Little \'ermillion ri\-er, and the people donated more liberally than was. the 
case in other parts of the county. 

After securing a seat of justice, the earliest acts of the county commis- 
sioners were recorded in a home-made book, manufactured for the purpose 
by the county clerk. It was left where mice worked and much of the records 
are not jjlainh- made out. in March, 1882, as much of the mutilated book as 
was possible was carefulh transcribed in a large well-bound book. This 
transcript begins with tlie minutes of the session of March, 1824, the year in 
which the county was organized, so really but very little of the original rec- 
ords have been lost. The first session was held at the house of James Blair, 
situated near the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 16, in 
township lO north, of range 9 west. That was on the west side of the old 
wagon road leading from Eugene to Newport, about half way laetween the 
two towns. 

The early records abo\ e referred to included the following paragraphs : 

"At a special meeting of the board of commissioners of Vermillion 
count}', begun and held at the house of James Blair, on Tuesday, March 2^, 
1824. and the commissioners, having their certificates of election and having 
taken the necessary oath, took their seats. Commissioners present, John 
Haines, Thomas Durham and Isaac Chambers. 

"First. Ordered, that William W. Kennedy l)e and is hereby appointed 
clerk of the board of commissioners of Vermillion county for this session. 

"Third. Ordered, that all that part of the county of Vermillion con- 
tained in the following bounds, to-wit : Beginning at the Wabash river, 
where the line dividing townships 13 and 14 crosses the same, thence with said 
line to the line di\iding the states of Indiana and Illinois, thence north to the 
line (!i\iding townships 14 and 15, thence east with said line to the \\'al)ash 
river, thence south with said ri\er to the place of beginning, shall constitute 
the civil township of Clinton: and that tlie election in said township be held in 
said township at the house of John Sargeant, in Clinton. 

"Fourth. Ordered, that all that part of the county of Vermillion con- 
tained in the following bounds, to-wit : Beginning at the Wabash ri\-er where 
the line between townships 14 and 15 crosses the same, thence west with the 
said line to the center of township 16. thence east with said central line to the 
Wabash river, thence south with said river to the place of beginning, shall 



PARKE AND VKRM ILI.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 253 

constiuitc the township of Jleh, aiiil that elections for said townsliip he held 
at the house of John \'an l"ani[). 

■■l'"itth. Ordered, tliat all that i)art of Vermillion count}-, contained in 
the following bounds, to-wit : Beginning at the Wabash river at the center of 
township if), thence west with said central line to the line di\iding the states 
of Indiana and Illinois, thence north with said line until it strikes the Big 
Vermillion river, thence east with said ri\er until it empties into the Wabash, 
thence south with said river to the ])lace of beginning, shall C(jnstitute the 
township of \'ermillion, and that elections in said township l)e •held at the 
school house in section if), in township iCi. 

"Sixth. Ordered, that all that part of Vermillion county contained in 
the following bounds, to-wit : Beginning at the ^^■ abash ri\er at the month 
of Big X'ermillion river, thence west with said ri\er to the line dividing the 
states of Indiana and Illinois, thence north with said line dividing townships 
ig and 20 thence east with said line to the Wabash ri\-er to the ])lace of begin- 
ning, shall constitute the township of Highland, and that elections be held 
in that township at the house of Jacob Andrick." 

Among the earh- journal entries are those relating to the appointment 
of constables for the following townships: Charles Trowbridge, for C'linton 
townshi]): John Harper, for Helt township: Jacob Custer, for Vermillion 
township : George Hansucker, for Highland township. All the abo\-e jjro- 
ceedings were had on the first day of the first session of the Imard nf cmn- 
missioners. 

Clinton and Helt townships remain unchanged to this day. but the other 
two townships have been made into three as follows : The line between \'er- 
million and Eugene townships is the line dividing sections 19 and 30 of sur- 
veyed township 17 north and 10 west, running east to the northeast corner 
of section 21. townshi]) 17 north and range g west, thence north a half mile. 
and thence east to the ri\er: the line di\-iding Eugene and Highland townshijis 
is the line dividing sections ig and 30 of townshi]) 18 north and 10 west, run- 
ning east to the river; and from the northern side of Highland township has 
been cut ofY one tier of sections of congressional township ig north, g west, 
and thrown into Warren county. 

The first grand iururs in A'crmilbDn countv were a])]iointed as fol'ows : 
Daxid W. Arnold. Horace Luddington. Rezin She'bw Andrew Thom])son. 
John Ti])ton. William Coffin, John Scott. Jesse Higgins, Morgan De Puy. 
William Hedges. John '\''anncst. W^illiam Boyles. James Andrews. James 
Har])er, Sr., and Tames Davis. 



254 PARKE AND \'ERM1LLI0N COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

The first petit jury was composed of the following gentlemen: Joel 
Dicken, Robert Elliott, James Groenendyke, John Thompson, Simeon Dicken, 
Isaac Worth, Lewis Zebreskey, Benjamin Shaw, Alexander Bailey, William 
Rice. 1-larold Hayes, Amos Reeder, William Hamilton, Juhn Clover, Ralph 
Wilson. Juhn Wimsett, Abraham ]\Ioore, John Alaxadun, Joseph Dillow, 
Thomas AIatlien_\ , John E. .\nderson, Obed Blakesley, John Van Camp and 
Joshua Skidmore. 

The board of commissioners appointed "superintendents" of the school 
.sections: Harold Hughes, for Clinton township: William Bales,' for Helt 
township; James Davis, for Vermillion township; William Coffin, for that in 
17 north, 9 west, in Highland township; Horace Luddington in 18 north, 
and Jacob .\ndrick in ly, also in Highland. 

The tirst overseers of the poor in this county were: John Vannest, for 
Clinton townshi]); James .\ndrews and Augusus Ford, for Helt; Zeno Worth 
and John Tipton, for \'ermillion, and John Haines and William Gonger, for 
Highland. 

John Collett A\as appointed "agent for laying out a county seat," and 
also lor "selling such lots as were ilonated b_\- John Justice and George Miner 
for the use oi the county, such lands as were Ijy them donated as more fully 
a])pears by their l)onds." 

Alexander Bade}- was appointed the first collector in this count)-. "The 
County Library Fund" was in charge of James Blair. Ijut such library, with 
all others in the commonwealth, was abandoned. 

On the third da}' of this session the bills of the sheriff and commissioners 
a])pointed liy the state government to locate the county seat were audited and 
ordered paid. William Fulton was allowed thirty-five dollars "as a sheriff 
in organizing the county of Vermillion." and also twi) dollars and fifty cents 
for obtaining a cop\' of the laws regulating the duties of the office of sheriff 
in new counties. 

John Collett was authorized to receive a deed of the land for the cfiuntv 
seat from John Justice. Josephus Collett and Stephen Collett. the land being 
"all that part of the west half of the southwest (|uarter of section 26. in town- 
ship 17 north, of range 9 west, which may be south of the Little N'erniillion 
creek should the same contain more or less." 

The Ma\'. 1824. session of the board of commissioners met at the house 
of James Blair, liut at once adjourned to the house of Jose]>hus Collett. at 
Vermillion Mills. .\t this place Mr. Haines did not appear. The other two 
commissioners decreed that fcrrv licenses he se\'en dollars: "that the clerk 



PARKE AND VKRMII.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 255 

list all property liable tu taxation for county purposes to the full amount 
allowed by law." The rate of tavern license was fixed at five dollars. The 
board entered an order that the seat of justice should be known as "the town 
of Newport." It was also ordered that the lots in said town be laid ofi ac- 
cording to the following form. \iz : Lots, sixty-six feet in frcjnt and one hun- 
dred and eighty-one feet in depth. 

The board divided the county mto thirteen road districts, and the .same 
w ere supplieil by supervisors through appointment. 

James IJlair was permitted to ojjerate a ferry at I'errysxille, and the rate 
of crossing was fixed by the count\- board as follow s : Wagon and fi\ e horses. 
seventy-five cents; wagon and four horses, sixty-two and a half cents; wagon 
and three horses, fifty cents; wagon and two horses, three shillings; man and 
one horse, one shilling; pedestrian, six and a fourth cents; neat cUtle. four 
cents a head ; hogs and sheep two cents a head. 

-Vt a point two miles north of Newjjort, John (iarduer was authorized 
to operate a ferry across the Wabash. 

During the first \'ear of the counl\'s histor\- the board of county com- 
missioners placed a license of ten dollars as a license to \-end foreign merchan- 
dise for the remaining portion of the year 1824. This was the first '■])rotective 
tariiif" heard of in Vermillion county. 

With the machinerx- set in motion, the newl}' organized county soon 
began to build for the future. Public buildings had to be constructed and 
roads and bridges made. Taxes had to be levied and collected, all of which 
kept the commissioners quite busilv engaged for a number of years. 

COURT HOUSE.S .'\ND JAII.S. 

N'ermillion couni\- has had tlic following ])ublic buildings erected for its 
use : 

.\t the lunc. 1 SJ4. session the count\- commissioners ordered a contract 
to l)e let foi" the building of a court liouse of the following descri])tion ; 
Thirtv-six feet in length and twenty-four feet in depth; containing two jury 
rooms, to be fmnished with a window of fifteen lights and a door opening 
from each into the court room; the latter to have eight feet for a passage be- 
tween it and the jurv room: balance of sixteen feet to be finished, laid off and 
worked in a semi-circular form, in a workm.-mlike manner: with seats for the 
judges, bar and jury: with bani.sters to .separate the said court and jury rooms, 
eight feet one from the other across said court house, at the distance of eight 



256 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

feet from said jury rooms, except so much as may be necessary for the ad- 
mission of persons in and to the bar and court, which said space is not to 
exceed three feet ; and the said court room is to be furnished with three win- 
dows of fifteen Hghts each, and two good doors. Said building is to be erected 
on the southeast corner of the public square, of good substantial frame of a 
ten- foot story co\ered with joint shingles; and said frame to be settled on a 
sufficient number of eighteen inch blocks two feet long." 

June 24, 1824, the board of commissioners met and awarded the contract 
for building the alx)ve described court house, for three hundred and forty-hve 
dollars, the structure to be completed by the first of the following No\-ember. 

Although the commissioners refused to accept the building when said by 
the contractor to be completed, it was used for courts and other public meet- 
ings of all kinds until another was erected of brick. The contractor was 
John Justice, to whom the county paid a part of the contract price, and he 
sued the county for the balance, and finally recovered the full amount, the 
supreme court ordering the county to pay in full, with the costs in the pro- 
ceedings. 

In the month of February, 18^1, the county commissioners obtained 
plans for another court house, and advertised for proposals for furnishing the 
material w ith which to build it. James Skinner, being the lowest responsible 
bidder, was awarded the contract for furnishing the brick at three dollars and 
fifty cents per thousand, and Stephen B. Gardner was promised two dollars 
and fifty cents a perch for the stone. Other material was contracted for, and 
the court Iiouse was completed under the immediate super\ision of the county 
commissioners, and was occupied until January 29, 1844, when, at eleven 
o'clock in the forenoon, it \yas partly destroyed by fire. The board met im- 
mediately and ordered the necessary repairs made. A\"ith the re-building and 
repairs thus made the structure served the county until 1868, when another 
court house was found necessary for the protection of the records and the 
transaction of the county's increasing business. Its cost was thirty thousand 
dollars. To this was added a wing on the west, in 1903, costing the county 
twenty-eight thousand dollars more ,and this re-built .structure is the present 
court house, \yhich is a good brick building, of handsome ])roportions. 

In July, 1910, the belfry of the court house \yas struck by lightning, 
causing a loss of fifty dollars, w hich was made good bj- the insurance carried 
h\- the county. 




THE OLD COUNTY SEMINARY. NEWPORT. 




VERMILLION COUNTY COURT HOUSE. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 257 

COUNTY JAILS. 

In June, 1828, four years after the urganization of the count), the com- 
missioners let the contract for the erection of the first jail in Vermillion county, 
the same being sixteen by eighteen feet in size, two stories high, of hewed 
timbers, with a partition of twelve feet for "debtors and criminals" room, 
lower story eight and a half feet in the clear, upper story eight feet, with 
partition as below, to be built of double tiuiljers, eight by ten inches thick, or 
wider if convenient; roof to l>e of joint shingles, etc., etc. Samuel Hedges 
was the contractor, and the contract price was three hundred and sixty-nine 
dollars. 

In connection w ith the same building was to be a clerk's room, fourteen 
by sixteen feet, one story high, nine feet in the clear, two fifteen-light win- 
dows, one door, etc. I'^or this room, Mr. Hedges was to be paid one hundred 
and sixteen dollars. Both structures were completed on time and no difficulty 
arose Ijetween contractor and commissioners. 

The present fine county jail, situated two squares to the east of the court 
house, is a combination of brick and stone. The brick jjortion. on the south, 
was a part of the jail built many years ago, and is now the sheriff's residence, 
while the main structure is of the finest grade of stone, cut and laid in an ex- 
cellent manner. The jail proper was erected in the nineties at a cost of 
fifteen thousand dollars. On the site of this building was the old jail in which 
was hanged the only man ever legally executed within \'ermillion county. 
This was in 1879 and is mentioned elsewhere. 

THE COUNTY ASVLU^t FOR TUF, TOOK. 

\'erniillion county has always been mindful of its unfortunate poor and 
at a very early date in its history pro\-ided a poor farm, which is still the com- 
fortable home of this class. The land comprising this farm — a (piarter sec- 
tion, two miles south of Newport — ^was first entered b}- \\'ill)ur and Da\is 
from the government and comprises the southwest quarter of section 3, town- 
ship 16, range 9. Later Peter Smith became the owner, and upon it as secur- 
ity he borrowed a certain sum of money from the county; failing to pay, the 
land reverted to the county, and after a short time the authorities converted 
il into a poor farm upon which i^ude Ijuildings were erected. These buildings 
on land worth thirty-fi\c dollars per acre in 1886, became worthless, and in 
1887 Vermillion countv erected a splendid, up-to-date countv infirmarv. cost- 
(17) 



258 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

ing almost sixteen thousand dollars. It included a department for the insane. 
The structure was erected two stories high, with a basement under the whole 
area, which was forty by one hundred and eight feet. The original building, 
as completed in 1S87-88, had thirty-two rooms for inmates, six of which were 
jjlanned for the insane subjects : five rooms were set apart for the use of the 
superintendent and his family. This building was constructed by Moore & 
McCoy of Danville, Illinois. In 1887 the reports show that the average num- 
ber of inmates was about twenty. Joseph Conrad, who was made superin- 
tendent in the spring of 1881. at a salary of six hundred dollars per vear. 
served for manv years. 

Since then many additions and improvements ha^-e been made on the 
premises. The superintendent's report to the county authorities in IQ12 
show that there were then twenty-six males and fourteen females at this 
humane institution. The superintendent was Grant Knight. 

COUNTY TRE.VSURY ROBBED IN 187O. 

Vermillion county was the victim of a bold robbery on Monday night, 
April 18, 1870, and the Hoosier State, published at Newport, had the follow- 
ing account of the affair, at the time: 

Oxer thirty-fi\-e thousand dollars was stolen from the county treasury 
vault, which had been faithfully closed and locked by Treasurer S. B. Davis, 
who later became famous as the editor of the paper above named. 

The doors were forced open by steel wedges, which were driven by a 
sledge. Neighbors heard the noise, but not distinctly enough to have their 
suspicions aroused. 

The next dav Orville White, who had just learned of the burglary, saw 
two men carrying a satchel across the farms about three miles north of Clinton. 
Calling two railroad hands to his assistance, they gave chase, calling upon the 
suspected fugitives to halt. The}' struck for the ri\er, and lea\-ing a portion 
of their clothing up the bank, began to swim across. Mr. White and his 
companions arriving, saw a farmer on the opposite side whom they knew, and 
hallowed to him to kill the rascals. Getting into shallow water, they drew 
their revolvers and fired at liim. y\v. White then requested his assi,stant to 
watch the thieves until he could raise a posse to take them. Discovering a 
wallet in the river. Mr. White waded in and obtained it, and found it con- 
tained $16,354. He then went home, mounted a horse and started for Clinton 
to raise a posse : but in the meantime the scoundrels reached the opposite 
shore, a mile below where thev entered the stream, soon found two railroad 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 259 

hands, and drew their revolvers upon tliciii. commanding them to give up 
their clothing in great haste, as they "had got into a row and had to swim the 
river to save their lives." Returning to the river, they got into a skiff and 
floated do\\n past Clinton under cover of the night, and thus succeeded in 
getting away. 

It is thought that very skillful burglars must have pulled off this job. 
The following day, Mr. White learned that one of the assistants, whom he 
had liastilv picked up from out ;i ccnupauy of railroad men, near by. was the 
receiver of a large amount of niDuey ;U that tiuie, but was not present at the 
robbery. 

On Mav 13th. $5,210 more of the county's mone}- was found in a satchel 
lodged on tlie roots of a cottonwood ;i mile and a half below where the thieves 
commenced to swim the river. ,''^13, 320 was never found. 

.\SSESSKD V.^LUATION BY PRECINCTS. 

The subjoined was the assessed \aluations in the various townships and 
corporations in VermiUion county in 1911 : 

Highland township $2,465,030 Dana (corporation) $ 486.395 

Eugene township 1.376.085 T<'air\ie\\ Park fcorpora- 

Vermillion township 1.940.000 tion) 1 10.140 

Helt township 3.202.720 I'linton City T.882.730 

Clinton township 1.959.605 

Cayuga (corporation) 363.820 

Newport fcnrporation) __ 402.720 Total $14,189,645 

COUNTY FINANCES. J.\NUARY. iqi2. 

From the county commissioners' report of the finances of Vermillion 
county for the period between January i. 191 1. and that of January 1. 191 2, 
the following is extracted : 

FUNDS. 

Balances on hand January i. 1911. and receijits from January 1. 191 1. 
to January i. 1912. $503,600. Balance on hand in net cash, January i, 1912, 
$1x3,260. 

RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS. 

For the year ending January i, 191 2, the county officials made the fol- 
lowing exhibit (H. T. Payne, auditor) : 



260 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

RECEIPTS. 

Balance on hand Jan. i, 191 1 $18,644.68 

Treas. percentage and mileage 686.89 

Township poor 7,031.44 

Proceeds — poor asylum 1,005.38 

Pub. printing and adv. 26.80 

Board miners' examiners 3,068.00 

Change of venue -48.50 

Special judges 165.00 

Jury fees ^.^J 

Int. from depositories 2,434.29 

County tax 52,894.24 

Miscellaneous 2,281.57 

Clerk's fees 2,136.36 

Auditor's fees 437—5 

Sheriff's fees 400.28 

Recorder's fees 2,431.85 

Total $93,895.90 

DISBURSEMENTS. 

Expense Circuit Clerk's office $ 2,366.58 

Exp. County Auditor's office 3,544.94 

E.xp. County Treasurer's office 4,039.08 

Exp. County Recorder's office I-7I9-33 

Exp. County Sheriff's office 3,036.00 

Exp. County Surveyor's office 356.80 

Co. Supt. and Teacher's Inst 1,892.99 

County Assessor's office 789.86 

Coroner's inquests 398.45 

County Health Commissioner 614.98 

County Commissioners' exp. 636.20 

County Council, Pauper and County Attorneys 772.00 

Board of Review 301.50 

Board of Truancy 222.75 

Assessing 2,616.00 

Township poor 5,004.78 

Court house 1,484.04 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 261 

County jail 97549 

County poor asylum 4,918.58 

Orphan poor 2,484.25 

Benevolent institutions 407. K) 

Insanity in(|uests 820.(^i() 

Elections 5.45 

Soldier burials 500.00 

Public printing 812.85 

Roads and highways 5o.j^ 

Returning fines 17.00 

Bridge supt. and engineer 114.00 

Deficiency in school funds t._^32.47 

Expense of game warden h.cxj 

Board of miner's examiners 9'9-75 

Taxes refunded 86.87 

Examination of public records ^ 1.338.30 

Bridge repairs 8,768.71 

Change of venue 1,141.90 

Special judges 165.00 

Jurors — petit and grand \.j2fi.z,T^ 

Official reporter .i'7-8o 

Bailiffs 45'-5C 

Board of children's guardians 59-75 

Juvenile court 444.79 

Expense of court room 147-75 

Criminal expense 85.43 

County bonds 2,800.00 

Cash on hand 33,200.82 

Total $93,895.90 



CHAPTER V. 



COUNTY AND OTHER OFFICIALS. 



As far as can now be gleaned from the county records and state publica- 
tions, the following is a list of those who have served as county officials in 
Vermillion county from the date of its organization to and including 1912 
(dates given show when they were elected to office) : 

SHERIFFS. 

I-'ebruary i, 1824 — William Fulton. 
September 8, 1825 — Caleb Bales. 
August 14, 1828 — Charles Trowbridge. 
August 28, 1832 — William Craig. 
August 16, 1834 — Allen Stroud. 
August 13, 1838 — William Bales. 
August 8, 1842 — Charles Trowbridge. 
August 20, 1848 — Owen Craig. 
August 2^, 1848 — Eli Newlin. 
August 12, 1852 — Richard Potts. 
November 18, 1856 — James H. Weller. 
November 18, i860 — Isaac Porter. 
Novemljer 18, 1864 — Harvey D. Crane. 
November 18, 1868 — Jacob S. Stephens. 
November 18, 1872 — Lewis H. Beckman. 
November 18, 1876 — Spencer H. Dallas. 
November 18, 1880 — William C. Myers. 
November 18, 1884 — John A. Darby. 
November, 1888— William Rheuby. 
November, 1890 — Michael Maher. 
November, 1892 — Josephus C. Dillow. 
November, 1894 — John M. Roberts. 
November, 1896 — John M. Roberts. 
November, 1900 — James A. Swayne. 
November, 1904 — J. H. Stephens. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 263 

Novenil)er, 1906 — Robert J. Hasty. 
November, 1908 — Morton Hollingswurth, 
November, 1910 — Steve McCown. 
November, 19 12 — Steve McCown. 

COUNTY RECORDERS. 

April, 1824 — James Thompson (declined to serve). 

September, 8, 1824 — William Kennedy (died in office). 

August 29, 1826 — James T. Pendleton. 

August 27, 1827 — Stephen B. Gardner. 

June 8, 1833 — John W. Rush. 

April 22, 1838 — Alexander B. Morer. 

By the provisions of the new state law, the offices of recorder and clerk, 
which had, prior to 1852, been a combined office, were at that date changed, 
making two separate offices. After this change the recorders were : 

April 22, 1852 — Alexander B. Florer. 
No\eni])er 2, 1861 — Andrew F. Adams. 
Noxember 2, 1865 — Robert E. Stephens. 
November 2, 1874 — Jacol) A. Souders. 
October 26, 1878 — Cornelius S. Davis. 
November 13, 1886 — Melville B. Carter. 
November, 1890 — John B. Groves. 
November, 1894 — George H. Fisher. 
November, 1898 — George H. Fisher. 
November, 1902 — Albert K. Mahan. 
November, 1906 — J. S. Stephens. 
Noxember, 1910 — Frank Johnson 

COUNTY CLERKS. 

The oftices of county clerk and recorder were one and the same until 
1852, after which they were separate offices — see above for the men who held 
the combined ofiices as far as is show n now by records. 

April 22. 1852 — James .\. Bell. 

.April 22, t86o — William 1*'. Livengood. 

April 22. 186S— James A. Bell. 

April 22. 1872 — William (iibson. 



264 PARKE AND VERMIIJ.ION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

April 2J. 1880 — James Roberts. 
April 22. 1884— Alfred R. Hopkins. 
November. j88f:) — Alfred R. Hopkins. 
November. 1890 — Jobn T. Lowe. 
November, 1894 — James C. Crane. 
November. I898~^^'illiam F. Wells. 
November. 1902 — W^illiam F. Wells. 
November, 1906 — John A. Hughes. 
No\'ember, 1910 — Manford C Jones. 

COUNTY TREASURERS. 

The list is not complete from the first to 1852, hence will not be given 
down to that date. 

No\-eml)er jt,. 1852 — William L'tler. 
November 2T,. 1854 — George H. Sears. 
November 2^, 1856 — (ieorge W. English. 
November 23. i860 — James A. Foland. 
November 23, 1864 — James A. Bell. 
November 23, 1865 — Samuel B. Davis. 
November 2^,, 1870 — James A. Foland. 
November 23, 1874 — James Osborne. 
November 23. 1876 — John H. Bogart. 
November 23. 1880 — Henry O. Peters. 
November 23, 1884 — \\'illiam L. Porter. 
November, 1886 — William L. Porter. 
November, 1888— William B. Hood. 
November. 1890 — Peter Aikman. 
November. 1892 — P'efer Aikman. 
November. 1894 — Edward B. Brown. 
No\'ember, 1896 — Edward B. Brown. 
November, 1898 — M. G. Hosford. 
November. 1900 — M. G. Hosford. 
Noxember, 1902 — H. R. Southard. 
November, 1904 — H. R. Southard. 
November, 1906 — .Albert K. ?\lahan. 
November, 1908 — John A. Hughes. 
November. 1910 — Andrew J. Huxford. 
November. 1912 — .\ndrew J- Huxford. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 265 

COUNTY AUDITORS. 

August 30, 1854 — David Shelby. 
June 7, 1856 — Henry D. Washburn. 
November i8. i860 — George W. English. 
November 18, 1864 — James Tarrence. 
November 18, 1872 — Thomas Cushman. 
November iS. 1880 — Elias Pritchard. 
November. 1884 — Elias Pritchard. 
Noveml)er. 1888 — William M. Hamilton. 
November, 1892 — William At. Hamilton. 
November, tSc/) — ^^'illiam P. Bell. 
November, 1900 — \\'illiam P. Bell. 
November, 1904 — H. T. Payne. 
November, 1908 — H. T. Payne. 
November. 19 12 — Roy .'slater. 

COUNTY SURVEYORS. 

March 6, 1824 — Greenup Castleman. 
November ii, 1826 — James Osborn. 
August 30, 1854 — John Collett. 
November 18, 1856 — Edward Griffin. 
November 2, 1857 — John Fleming. 
No\ember 2, 1859 — David Shelby. 
November 2, i860 — B. E. Rhoades. 
November 2, 1861 — Daniel Shelby. 
November 7, 1862 — ^James M. Lacy. 
November 7, 1863 — Buskin E. Rhoades. 
No\ember 7, 18C14 — John Davis. 
October 2i<. 1865 — Martin G. Rhoades. 
Octoljer 2C1, 1870 — William E. Henderson. 
October 30. 1872 — John Henderson. 
October 30, 1874 — Richard Henderson. 
October 30, 1876 — John Henderson. 
October 30, 1878 — Piatt Z. Anderson. 
Noveml)er 13, 1884 — Fred Rush. 
November, 1886 — Fred Rush. 
November, 1888— R. A. Parrett. 



266 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

November, 1890 — R. A. Parrett. 
November, 1892 — R. A. Parrett. 
November, 1894 — R. A. Parrett. 
November, 1896 — Fred Beard. 
November, 1898 — Fred Beard. 
November, 1900 — Robert Barnes. 
November, 1902 — Oscar T. Zell. 
November, 1904 — Carl H. Conley. 
November, 1906 — James W. Thomas. 
November, 1908 — -Howard Zell. 
November, 1912 — John H. Boe. 

CORONERS. 

September 8, 1824 — Matthew Stokes. 
August 29, 1826 — Carter Hollingsworth. 
August 14, 1828 — Matthew Stokes. 
August 28, 1832 — Edward Marlow. 
August 16, 1834 — Matthew Stokes. 
August 18, 1835 — Peter J. Vandever. 
August 9, 1836 — Alfred T. Duncan. 
August 14, 1837 — William Malone. 
August 10, 1841 — Leonard P. Coleman. 
August 8, 1842 — William Malone. 
August 23, 1844 — Durham Hood. 
August 25, 1848 — Daniel C. Sanders. 
August 23, 1850 — Joseph E. Hepner. 
August 12, 1852 — Andrew Dennis. 
August 30, 1854 — John Vanduyn. 
November 18, 1856 — Robert Elliott. 
November 2, 1857 — David Smith. 
November 18, 1858 — George Luellen. 
November 2, 1861 — John L. Howard. 
October 30, 1868 — R. Harlow Washburn. 
October 30, 1870 — Thomas Brindley. 
October 30, 1880 — Hezekiah Casebeer. 
October 30, 1882 — Thomas Brindley. 
November, 1884 — Thomas Brindley. 
November, 1886 — Thomas Brindlev. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 267 

November, 1888 — Thomas Drindley. 
November, 1890 — Thomas Brindley. 
Novemlier. 1892 — Thomas Brindley. 
November, 1894 — Robert J. Hasty. 
November. 1896 — Robert J. Hasty. 
November, 1898 — Robert J. Hasty. 
November, 1900 — Robert j. Hasty. 
November, 1902 — Roljert J. Hasty. 
November, 1904 — Rol)ert J. Hasty. 
November, 1906 — Carl H. Conley. 
November, 1908 — George W. Wells. 
November, 1910 — Isaac D. White. 
November, 1912 — Isaac D. White. 

ASSOCIATE JUDGES. 

This office was abolished by the code of 1852. The following were the 
associate judges down to the date of the doing away with the office : 
April 22. 1824 — Jacob .\ndricl-c. 
February 4, 1828 — Christian Zabrisky. 
August 14, 1828 — Joseph Hain (resigned). 
April 22, 1 83 1 — John Porter. 
August 19, 183 1 — Alexander Morehead. 
March 4, 1835 — Matthew Stokes (resigned). 
August 18, 1835 — Robert G. Roberts. 
July II, 1836 — Charles Johnston. 
August 9, 1836 — Joseph Shaw. 
April 22, 1838 — Alexander Morehead (resigned). 
August 2~, 1S38 — Joel Hume (resigned). 
August II, 1840 — Ashley Harris. 

August II. 1840 — Eli Brown (removed from county). 
October 17, 1842 — James M. Morris. 

PROBATE JUDGES. 

This office was abolished with the incoming of the 1832 code in Indiana. 
Those who served while the office existed were : 
August 14, 1829 — Asaph Hill. 
January 8, 1833 — John W. Rush (resigned). 
May 6, 1833 — Rezin Shelby. 
August 19, 1847 — Francis Chenoweth. 



CHAPTER VI. 

MILITARY HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY. 

Vermillion couiiU' was not settled until after the war of 1812 with Great 
Britain, hence had no part in that last conflict w ith the mother country. It 
had a few soldiers in the war with Mexico from 1846 to 1848, hut no regular 
organization from this count}-. The few who went from Vermillion county 
have long since been numbered with the dead. \\'hen the Spanish-. \nierican 
war came on in 1898, this county had no regular National Guard company, 
hence had no regular companv in that decisive war w ith Spain. This leaves 
the militar\- history of the county in that long-tlrawn-out struggle for the 
])reservatioii of the Union — the Civil war, — and in this the county sent forth 
her full share of brave defenders, ^lany returned and many sleep beneath the 
Southern skies. Vermillion county may well be proud of its Civil war record, 
both as to the volunteers it sent to the front and the amount of money it fur- 
nished for the support of the families of soldiers, etc. To not have been loyal 
to the flag, here, was to be disgraced. 

JUST BEFORE THE CONFLICT. 

The days just before the civil conflict came on were thrilling times, and 
no better index can be given here than to cpiote from the article written in the 
Saturday Argus of Clinton, by L. O. Bishop, giving his own observations of 
those perilous days. He says : 

Our home seemed to be the storm center of the then hated abolition move- 
ment. "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Helper's "Crisis,"' Horace Greeley's Ncic York 
Tribune. William Lloyd Garrison's Liberator, stories of the Revolution and 
such literature made up much if not all of the inspiration of the family circle. 
-\Iy grandparents. Hiram and Sabrina Bishop, and father. Francis ?i[arion. 
were of Xew Hampshire and Massachusetts birth, and we all had indoctrinated 
in us a radical belief in liberty and hatred of all forms of injustice, of wrong 
b\- the strong upon the weak, and of sla\ery especially. 

On mother's side of the family origin began in Ireland, and all her tradi- 
tions and sympathies were against sla\erv and oppression. And right here I 
vill relate an incident that occurred at the then thriving town of Perrysville. 



PARKE ^VND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 269 

j\l\- motlier, wlio had cunie from Virginia before 1858, was making her home 
witli the family of Ira Alxiill. Now Mr. and Mrs. Abdill were ardent church 
members, and they were rigid in their adherence to church laws. If there 
was any one act that was unpardonable sin, an act that w ould eternally damn 
the human soul, it was no\-el reading. .Some one tried to lead my mother awa\- 
from the straight and narrow way b}- placing in her hands a copy of "L'ncle 
Tom's Cabin." In the girlish innocence of her heart she saw no harm in 
reading that "Life .Vmong the Lowly," and finally liecame so deepl}' inter- 
ested in the story that one Sunda\ she sat and read past the dinner hour, 
utterly oblivious of the flight of time. l'"inally the good old mistress of the 
house broke into the room with the exclamation: "\Vh_v, Lin, what are you 
reading that holds you so? Don't you know it is dinner time? Some trashy 
novel I swan!" Mother laid the book down on the bed and flew' to her work. 

Mrs. Abdill, thinking she would just exercise authority over the character 
of the literature that came into her house, picked up the book in a gingerly 
way and began to turn the pages as though it were a message from Belzebub 
himself. Then she opened it at the title page and gave it a disdainful glance. 
.She turned to the oi)ening chapter and out of her curiositx- began to peruse the 
lines in order to get some excuse to condemn the w ork. 

She came to the heart-breaking scene of Eliza stealing through the dark- 
ness to the humble cabin of L'ncle Tom to inform him that they had been sold 
and she was going to run aw ay with her little babe. Thai was too much for 
the good old mother in Israel. Then she read the second chapter, and man- 
aged to get through the third safely, and the worst thing that happened to 
her was an aching heart and moistened eyes. And somehow she just wanted 
to know what was in the fourth chapter. And she read on and on and on. 
She forgot all care, all household labors, all religious rites and evening found 
the face of that dear old soul fairly glued to the thrilling pages uf a story told 
by a woman that was setting the heads of the nations athrill with an abhorrence 
of slavery. And then Air. Abdill, stern and firm in his convictions of religious 
duty, unbent somewhat. He, too, l)egan to read the stor\-. Finall\- it got 
such a grip on him that he took "Uncle Tom's Cabin" to bed with him and 
just lay there and read and read and burned the midnight oil until the wee 
snia' hours. 

But when at last that family had finished the story of "Uncle Tom's 
Cabin" there was a changed tone in another home. A woman's hand had done 
the w^ork. Perrysville felt the electric thrill, as was shown a few years later 
when the very flower of her manhiKid marched away amid waving flags and 
shouting multitudes in response to the President's call. I onlv mention this 



270 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

incident to show how the quiet forces of God work in places and in ways un- 
seen and unknown of men, to prepare the way for the advancement of still 
greater things. 

That work of Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe set the world ablaze with 
hatred of human slavery. Everybody in the Wabash valley read it, or read 
about it. Its influence was subtle, but permanent. All those earlier years 
the agitation against human sla\ery had been pushed throughout the Xorth 
with all the \igor of crusaders. The wave struck Clinton. Big. impetuous, 
sympathetic Hiram Bishop one dav proclaimed upon Main street that from 
that moment on, he was for the abolition of slax'ery. The immediate provo- 
cation for the exclamation was the storv of a sla\e-po\\er outrage u])on free- 
speech. The .scandal spread like wild-fire all over the countr\-. There lived 
here in Ointon a harness-maker, another old Easterner, named John Cowgill. 
He heard the awful story that a man in Clinton had come out for aliolition. 

Cowgill ne\er stopped for a second to take thought as to whether it would 
be safe, but instantly blurted out that ''Here is another one of those d — d 
black abolitionists." Cowgill's endorsement of the unpopular idea only added 
fuel to the flames, and there burst forth a storm of wrath against the t\\ o men 
such as they did not forsee. 

"^^^hat !'" cried a pro-slaveryite to mv grandfather one day. "do you want 
to free the millions of niggers in the South, and have them coming up here 
into the Xorth and competing with honest men for jobs. Do \ou want vour 
daughter to marry a nigger ? Shame on you for such scandalous sentiment." 

But the storm of anger kept rising and growing hotter and hotter. And 
then one day grandfather Bishop came home in great trepidation. He was 
deejily stirred and uneasy. Something had gone wrong. Finallv the family 
was informed that he had been notified that he and John Cowgill were to be 
hung as "black abolitionists.'" The threat stirred up a hornet's nest in the 
village of Clinton and one dark night a posse of men gathered with ropes and 
went out to hunt up John Cowgill and Hiram Bishop and hang them to the 
first tree they could find. At the same time another company of men got 
together and sent the "Regulators'" sharp notice that the moment they began 
the hanging business there would be such a demand for ropes and trees that 
the supply would soon be exhausted. The real sentiment of the people had 
crystallized and taken on definite, defiant form and stood between two homes 
and the agents of an angered aristocracy that was then feeling the terrific blows 
of Lincoln's logic. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 27I 

I'"nrther than stating tliai the cause of tlie Civil war was the great ques- 
tion of slavery, that had been the difficulty Ijetween the North and the South 
for many years, it will not be necessary to go into the details, all so well known 
to the reader of history. The war came on in .\i)ril. 1861, and lasted four 
long, eventful years, and was finally decided in favor of the North and of the 
freedom of the black race on the American soil. Upon the election of Presi- 
dent Lincoln, Republican, in the fall of i860, over the split-up factions of 
Democracy, the more hot-headed people of the South rebelled and w ent out of 
the Union, South Carolina being the first to secede, and that state was soon 
followed by practicalh- all south of Mason and Dixon's line. 

The part taken in this war by the citizens of Vermillion count}' is best 
known by following the history of the \arious companies and regiments that 
had within their ranks men from this section of Indiana. Before .going into 
the histor\- of these commands tliex' niav be enumerated as follows: The 
Fourteenth Infantry, the Sixteenth Infantry, the Eighteenth Infantry, the 
.Thirty-first Infantr}-, the Forty-third Infantry, the Seventy-first Infantry 
(later the Sixth Cavalry), the Kiglity-fifth Infantry, the One Hundred and 
Twenty-Ninth Infantry. 

The file of the Hoosicr State, on July 31. 1861. had the following: 
"Capt. P. R. Owen, of the 'Clinton Guards." arrived home on last Saturday. 
The Captain's sojourn in 'Seccssia' has ini])roved his appearance materially. 
He left the Fourteenth Regiment at Cheat River, eleven miles from Beverly, 
Randolph county. Virginia, and reports the Clinton boys all doing well and in 
excellent spirits. 

"Captain Owen addressed between six and seven hundred persons in and 
around the Presbyterian church, on Monday night, going into detail concern- 
ing the march of the Fourteenth Regiment from Floosierdom to the "sacred 
soil." and the full |)articulars of the battle of Rich Mountain, at the conclusion 
of which three cheers were given him by the interested audience. He left 
for \'irginia yesterday, accompanied by the good wishes of his numerous 
friends in this community." 

Another item in the same issue said, "Our citizens were aroused from 
their slumbers this morning by the ringing of the bell on tlie town liall, which 
was the signal for the departure of Captain Owen to join his gallant little 
hand in \'irginia. A large number of citizens, under command of James Mc- 
Culloch, accompanied by inartial music, proceeded to the residence of Captain 
Owen. In a few minutes he mounted his horse and was escorted to the east 
end of the bridge, where the company opened ranks as he passed to the front. 
John W. Vandiver, on behalf of the citizens of Clinton, delivered a well-timed 



2^2 PARKE AND \ERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

speech, suited to the occasion. Captain Owen returned thanks for the hospital- 
it}- and warm welcome he had received since his return, and pledged the flag 
which the fair ladies had presented the regiment should be brought back un- 
tarnished and covered with glory and victory, he hoped. For himself, and 
those under him, he pledged loyalty and bravery on the field of conflict. Again 
three cheers went up for the Captain and his command. The Captain then 
rode proudly away to his duties in the far-off Southland." 

TREACHERY IN THE REAR ''kNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE." 

Vermillion county was not exempt from national enemies at home and 
sympathizers with the South, though not as bad here as in other sections of 
Indiana. In his well written articles on "Reminiscences of Fifty Years Ago," 
by Editor Bishop, of the Clinton Argus, we' are permittcil to quote the follow- 
ing on this subject : 

By the beginning of the second year of the Civil war the people of Clin- 
ton, in common with many other northern communities, began to find out that 
while the great conflict was bringing- out the best and noblest in men and 
women, it was also bringing to light the basest, the weakest, the most con- 
temptible and despisable elements of human nature. And reading the pages 
of history, we find that it was ever thus. 

Whether this outcropping of sympathy with the slave power was due to 
natural, inherent wickedness, depravity and sheer deviltry, or whether it was 
mistaken zeal in what the actors believed to be a just cause, it is not my pur- 
pose now to discuss. The facts are bad enough, let alone hunting for theories 
ujjon which to condone them. 

Scarcely had the men who could be spared gotten away than there began 
to be whispered about a mysterious brotherhood being organized all over west- 
ern Indiana and eastern Illinois. At first the name of the secret organization 
was not known. Its purpose was securely locked within the breasts of oath- 
])ound members. Xo one knew whom to trust any more. \\'arnings of 
physical violence began to appear at homes, in towns and country, if certain 
parties did not let up on their oiTensive acti\ity in recruiting soldiers for the 
war. Mounted men were seen riding over tiie country at midnight. Depre- 
dations became more and more frequent and the losses heavier. Horses and 
cattle were missing and other acts committed, all of which, combined with the 
awful struggle at the front, made home life full of fear and anxiety. It finally 
cropped out that the name of this secret brigandage was the ■"Knigiits of the 
Golden Circle." The activity of this gang was so satanic and widespread that 



PARKE AND VERMIT.I-ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 273 

lor twenty years after the war to even hint that anyone had been a nienilier 
of it, or was in sympathy with it. was encmgh tn ihi\e a man \.<> pnlitical 
oblivion. Peojjle seored the Knit^hts of the (joiden Circle more bitteii\' than 
they did the men who were fighting openly for the Confederacy. 

The condition here kept growing worse and worse, until ])ublic sentiment 
was at fever pitch. Secret ser\-ice agents were detailed to hunt down the 
conspirators and bring them to trial. .\nd some were caught in the drag-net. 
But not until after great mischief had been done. It needed but a spark to 
set off this magazine, and one day the explosion came in a w ay and a place no 
one had dreamed of. 

There w-as at the time of which I speak, a low frame building at the 
northeast corner of Elm and Alain streets. The Main street room was occu- 
pied by a man who kept a groggery. Licensed saloons were unknown then. 
This man had so far kei)t a discreet silence on the subject of the war, although 
it was generally- believed that at heart he was in symi)athy w ith the rebellion. 
Several of the boys had come home on furloughs. One of them walked past 
this groggery in his uniform. The proprietor flew into a passion at sight of 
him. and began to pour forth a tirade of abuse and insult. As the young 
soldier went on past, the fellow, thoroughly enraged, stejjped up l^ehind him 
and dealt the boy a blow that felled him to the street. Instantly he was upon 
his prostrate form pounding the bo}' and would ha\e killed him. had not an 
older brother, seeing the affair, rushed to the boy's rescue. The incident spread 
over town like a prairie fire, and in a short time every returned soldier and 
able-bodied man was at the door of the shop armed to the teeth and ready for 
an emergency. That night the'doors were broken in bv a rush of men and in 
a few minutes it was literally wrecked. Every bottle and jug was smashed, 
every barrel of whisky was broken in with an ax and the place had a combined 
odor of wiiisky, 1)eer, w ine and tobacco and sour sw ill that would have made a 
starch factory smell like attar of roses. The proprietor w as roughly notified to 
get out of town and to do it "d — d quick, too." He got out about 12:30 in 
the morning, and a hatless man was seen running out of the end of the old toll 
bridge, headed for the south. He ne\er returned to straighten up his room 
or business affairs. The incident had one salutary effect after all. It showed 
the country that even the old men and those not ])hysicallv able to stand the 
army service were not to Ik; trifled with and it gave the Knights of the ( lolden 
Circle notice to keep hands off. .\nd from that time on their activities in this 
part became less. But meetings were kept up in the .southwest and arrange- 
ments had been made to help Morgan carry his raid into the North. How- 
ever, the government's secret service brought the scheme to a shar|r end. 
(18) 



274 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

FOURTEENTH INFANTRY REGIMENT. 

The company know n as I of the Fourteenth Regiment of Indiana Infantry 
was formed at CHnton witliin less than a month from the time Fort Sumter 
had been fired upon by the rebels, at Charleston. South Carolina. Philander 
R. Owen w as made captain of the company, and during the war was promoted 
to lieutenant-colonel, when John Lindsey was commissioned captain to suc- 
ceed him. Captain Lindsey was enlisted as first lieutenant, and was mustered 
out Jime 24, 1864, on the expiration of his term. Upon his promotion to cap- 
tain. William P. Haskell, who liad been appointed second lieutenant of the 
organization, was commissioned first lieutenant to fill the vacancy, and was 
discharged Xoveml>er 25, 1863. for promotir;n in the Fourth Regiment of 
United States Colored Troops. James M. Alitchell was promoted from the 
office of second lieutenant to that of first. The colonels of the Fourteenth. 
in succession, were Nathan Kimball, of Loogootee, who was promoted briga- 
dier-general : William Harrow, of Vincennes, also promoted, and John Coons, 
of \'incennes. who was killed in tlie liattle of Spott.s}'l\'ania Court-House. \'ir- 
ginia. May 12, 1864. 

From the adjutant-general's and other state reports on the Indiana troops, 
it is learned that the Fourteenth Regiment was originally organized at Camp 
Vigo, near Terre Haute, in May. 1861, as one of the six regiments of state 
troops accepted for one year. L'pon the call for three-year troops the regi- 
ment volunteered for that service. The new organization was mustered into 
the United States service at Terre Haute. June 7. i86t, being the first three- 
s-ear regiment mustered into service in the whole state of Indiana. On its 
organization there were one thousand one hundred and thirty-four men and 
officers. They left Indianapolis July 5th, fully armed and equipped, for the 
seat of war in western \'irginia. They ser\-ed on outiiost dutv until October, 
when they had their first engagement on Cheat Mountain, with Lee"s armv, 
losing three killed, eleven wounded and two prisoners. Their secimd engage- 
ment was \ irtualh- in the same battle at Greenbrier. October 3. when they lost 
five killed and eleven wounded. 

March 23, 1862, under General Shields, Colonel Kimball and Lieutenant- 
colonel Harrow, they participated in the decisive battle of Winchester, where 
they lost four killed and fifty wounded, when "Sheridan was twenty miles 
awaw" as the ]>oet puts it. 

r.esides a great deal of niarcliing and other military duty, they marched 
three hundred and thirty-nine miles between May 12 and June 23. a part of 
-\\ hich time most of the men w ere without shoes and short of rations. In fuh'. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES^ INDIANA. 275 

for about twenty days, the\' were kept on uutpost duty in the Army of the 
Potomac, coming in contact with the enemy ahnost day and night, .\ngust 
17th, they participated in that great battle of Antietam, serving in Kimball's 
brigade of l-'rencli's division, it being the only jiortion of the line of battle that 
did not, at some time during the engagement, gi\e way. On this account the 
men received from General French the title of "( libraltar Brigade.'" For four 
hours the Fourteenth was engaged within si.xt}- yards of the enemy's line, and, 
after exhausting sixt\- rounds of cartridges, they supplied themselves with 
others from the bo.xes of their dead and wounded companions. In this fight 
the men were reduced in number from three hundred and twenty to one hun- 
dred and fifty. Subse<|uently, they were still further reduced at the battle 
of Fredericksburg. 

.\pril 28, 1863, being a little recruited by some of the wounded recover- 
ing, they were at the front in the famous battle of Chancellorsville, as well as 
at the desperate battle of Gettysburg, the turning-point of the Civil war. .\fter 
that battle thev engaged in several severe fights, and some of the men re- 
enlisted. December 24, 18^13. This truly nolile, brave regiment — wliat was 
left of it — was finalb' mustered mit at r,ouis\'ille. Kentucky. Jul\- 12. 1865. If 
Vermillion county had not been represented by another regiment in the Civil 
strife, it would have reason to be proud of its soldiery. 

THE SIXTEEXTII IXnL\NA IXFAXTRV. 

This regiment was organized May, i8()i, as a one-vear regiment, con- 
taining some volunteers from \^ermillion county. Pleasant A. Hackleman, of 
Rusliville, was the first colonel, and on his promotion to the brigadier-general- 
shi]i, Thomas J- Lucas, of Fawrenceburg. was ]ilaced as colonel. Horace S. 
Crane, of Clinton, this county, was mustered in as second lieutenant of Com- 
pany I, and mustered out with the regiment as sergeant. 

May 27, 1862. this regiment was re-organized for the three-year service, 
but was not mustered in until .\ugust 19th. On the 30th of the month last 
named, it took part in the battle of Richmond. Kentucky, losing two hundred 
men killed and wounded and six hundred ])risoners! .\fter the defeat the 
prisoners were ]iaroled and sent to Indianajiolis. and wer^ exchanged Novem- 
ber 1st. The regiment afterward p;irtici]);ue(l in the N'icksburg campaign, and 
did great duty in Texas and at .Arkansas Post, where it was first to phut the 
flag of the Union within the fort. Its loss was seventy-seven men, killed and 
wounded. In .\pril it participated in a successful engagement at Port Gibson, 
and fluring the ensuing several months it was engaged in the siege of ^■icks- 



276 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 



burg, in which it lost sixty men, killed and wounded. Later, it had several 
skirmishes with the rebels in Louisiana, and, in the expedition up Red river, 
sixteen engagements. The regiment was mustered out at New Orleans, June 
30, 1865. 

THE EIGHTEENTH INDIANA INFANTRY. 

Company C of the Eighteenth Regiment of \'olunleer Infantry, from 
Indiana, was made up wholly of Vennillion county's noble sons, and all its 
ot^cers in the roster are credited to Newport. John C. Jenks was promoted 
from captain to major; James A. Eell, from first lieutenant to captain; Josiah 
Campbell and William B. Hood, from private to captain; Harvey D. Crane and 
Oscar B. Lowrey, from sergeants to frrst lieutenants; William H. Burtut was 
promoted from private to first lieutenant; William M. Mitchell, from private 
to second lieutenant ; William \\'. Zener from first sergeant to second lieu- 
tenant, and then to adjutant ; Jasper Nebeker was second lieutenant and died 
in the service; Robert H. Nixon and John Anderson were sergeants; and 
corporals included Samuel B. Da\-is, soon disabled bv tlisease, and later well- 
known throughout Indiana as the talented, fearless Rei)ublican editor of the 
Hoosier State, at Newport, this county. John F. Stewart, James O. Boggs, 
Alonzo Hostetter, Aaron Hise, James Henry, Charles Gerresh and John A. 
Henry were also corporals. John F. Leighton, of the recruits, was pro- 
moted from the ranks to the position of corporal. Hugh H. Conle\-, another 
recruit, subsequently became a prominent citizen of Vermillion county. 

The first colonel of the Eighteenth Regiment was Thomas Pattison, of 
Aurora, and upon his resignation, June 3, 1862, Henry D. Washburn, of New- 
port, succeeded him. The latter was brevetted brigadier-general December 
15, 1864, and mustered out July 15. 1865. The first service rendered by this 
regiment, which was mustered in August 16, 1861, was in Fremont's march to 
Spring-field, Missouri. Soon afterward, at Black Water, it participated in the 
capture of a large number of prisoners. In March, 1862, it was engaged in 
the fierce contest at i'ea Ridge, where its brigade saved from capture another 
brigade, and the Eighteenth re-captured the guns of the I'eoria Artillfen-. 
After several smaller engagements in Arkansas it returned to southeastern 
Missouri, \\here it was on duty during the ensuing v inter. The following 
spring it was transferred to Grant's army, and, as part of the division com- 
manded by General Carr, participated in the flanking of the enem\-'s position 
at Grand Gulf, and May ist, in the battle of Port Gibsun. captured a stand of 
colors and some artillery; also on the 13th, at Champion's Mill, and on the 
17th. at Black River Bridge. From the 19th till July 41I1. it was emjiloved in 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 277 

the famous siege of N'ickslnirg. wlicre, during tlie assault, it w as the first regi- 
ment to plant its colors on the enemy's works. 

After the capitulation of \'icksl)urg, July 4. 1863, the regiment inoxed to 
New Orleans, and during the autumn following particijiated in the campaign 
up the Teche ri\-er and in the nperatinns in that part of Louisana. Xo\-eml)er 
I2th it embarked for Te.xas, where on the 17th it was engaged in the capture 
of Mustang Island, and also in the successful attack on Fort I'lsperanza on the 
26th. After a furlough in the winter and spring of 1864, it joined (General 
Butler's forces at Bermuda Hundred, in July, where it had several severe 
skirmishes, .\ugust 19th, it joined (leneral Sheridan's .Army of the Shenan- 
doah. In the campaign that followed, the regiment participated in the battle 
of Opequon, losing fifty-four killed and wounded ; also in the pursuit of Early, 
seven killed and wounded: and in the battle of Cedar Creek, October igth, 
losing fifty-one killed and wounded, besides thirty-frve prisoners. 

From the middle of January, 1863, for three months, the Fighteeuth was 
assisting in building fortifications at Savannah. Alay ist, it was the first to 
raise the Stars and Strij^ies at .Augusta, Georgia. The regiment w as mustered 
out .\ugust 28, 1865. 

THE THIRTY-FIRST INDIANA INFANTRY. 

This regiment had a number of volunteers from Vermillion county. It 
was organized at Terre Haute, September 15. t86i, for three vears .service. 
The colonels were: Charles Cruft, of Terre Haute: John Oshorn, of Bowl- 
ing Green; John T. Smith, of Bloomfield, and James R. Hollowell, of Belle- 
more. It participated in the decisive battle of Fort Donelson : was in the bat- 
tle of Shiloh, where it lost twenty-twi.i killed, one hundred and ten wounded 
and ten missing: in the siege of Corinth: was stationed at various places in 
Tennessee: was engaged in the battle. of Stone River and Chattanooga, of the 
.\tlanta campaign, Nashville, etc., and was on duty in the Southwest until late 
in the autumn of the year 1865. many months after the termination of the war. 

THE FORTV-TITIRI) INKAXTKV KKclIMENT. 

Vermillion county sent out Company I of this regiment. Samuel T. Hall 
was captain from the date of muster, October 9. 1861, to January 7, 1865. the 
close of his enlistment, and then Robert B. Sears was captain until the regi- 
ment was mustered out. He was promoted from the position of corporal to 
that of first lieutenant, and finally to that of captain. l\avid .A. Ranger, of 



278 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIAJvTA. 

Toronto, this count}-, was first lieutenant; William L. Martin, of Newport, 
was first the second and then the first lieutenant. George W. Shewmaker 
was second lieutenant for the first seven or eight months. John Lovelace was 
first a pri^•ate and then second lieutenant. 

George K. Steele, of Rockville, was colonel of the regiment until January 
16, 1862; William E. McLean, of Terre Haute, until May 17, 1865, and John 
C. Major, from that date till the mustering out of the regiment. 

The first engagement had by this regiment was at the siege of New Ma- 
drid and Island No. Ten. It was attached to Commodore Foote's gun-boat fleet 
in the reduction of Fort Pillow, serving sixty-nine days in that campaign. It 
was the first Union regiment to land in the city of Memphis, and, with the 
Fifty-sixth Indiana, constituted the entire garrison, holding that place for two 
weeks, until reinforced. In July, i8C)2, the Forty-Third was ordered up 
White River. Arkansas, and later to Helena. At the battle at this place, a 
year afterward, the regiment was especially distinguished, alone supporting a 
battery that was three times charged by the enemy, repulsing each attack, and 
finally capturing a full Rebel regiment larger in point of numbers than its own 
strength. 

It aided in the capture of Little Rock, where, in January, 1864, the regi- 
ment re-enlisted, when it numbered four hundred. Next it was in the battle 
of Elkin's Ford, Jenkin's I-"erry, Camden and Alark's Mills, near Saline river. 
At the latter place, April 30tli. the brigade to which it was attached, while 
guarding the train of four hundred wagons returning from Camden to Pine 
Bluffs, was furiously attacked by six thousand of General Marmaduke's cav- 
alry. The Forty-third lost nearly two hundred in killed, wounded and miss- 
ing in this engagement. Among the captured were one hundred and four re- 
enlisted veterans. 

After this, the regiment came home on a furlough, but while enjoying 
this vacation they volunteered to go to Frankfort, Kentucky, which was then 
being threatened by Morgan's raiders. They remained there until the Rebel 
forces left central Kentucky. For the ensuing year it guarded the Rebel 
prisoners at Camp Morton, at Indianapolis. After the war ended, it was 
among the first regiments mustered out, this taking place at Indianapolis, June 
14, 1865. Of the one hundred and sixty-four men captured from the regiment 
in Arkansas and taken to the Rebel prison at Tyler, Texas, twelve died. 



PARKE AND VERMII.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 279 

SEVENTV-FIRST INFANTRY (LATER THE SIXTH CAVALRY). 

Company A of this regiment was exclusively from Verniillion county. 
Andrew J. Dowdy, of Clinti)n, was captain: Robert Bales, of Clinton, first 
lieutenant: William (). Xorris. of the same place, second lieutenant, killed at 
the battle of Richmond, Kentucky; Joseph Hasty, from Newport, succeeded 
him as .second lieutenant: fir.st sersjeant. William O. Washburn, of Clinton; 
sergeants, Francis D. Weber, of Newport: Johnson oMalone, Alexander M. 
Steats and George W. Scott, of Clinton; corporals, Jo.seph Brannan, Richard 
M. Rucker, Lewis H. Beckman, Larkin Craig, Daniel Bmitin, Reuben H. 
Clearwaters, John L. Harris and Charles Blanford; musicians. George W. 
Harbison and James Simpson. Most of these were credited to Clinton, though 
some of them, as well as privates which were credited to Clinton, and some to 
Newport, were residents of Helt township. 

The colonel of this regiment was James Biddle. of Indianapolis. .\t first 
this regiment was organized as infantry, at Terre Haute, in Julv and August, 
1862. Its first dut\- was to rc])el tlie iinasion of Kirb\- Smith in I\entuck\-, 
August 30th. it was engaged in the battle of Richmond. Kentucky with a loss 
of two hundred and fifteen killed and wounded and three hundred and fort\-- 
seven prfsoners. After the latter were exchanged, four hundred men and 
officers of the regiment were sent to Muldrangh's Hill to guard trestle work, 
and on the following day they were attacked by a force of four thousand 
Rebels under the command of Gen. John H. Morgan, and after an engagement 
of an hour and a half were surrounded and captured. The remainder of the 
regiment then returned to Tndiana])olis. where thev remainetl until .\ngust 26, 
1863. 

During the ensuing autumiL with two additi(inal com])anies. L and M, 
they were organized as cavalry, and were sent into eastern Tennessee, wliere 
they engaged in the siege of Knoxville and in the 0])erations against General 
Longstreet, on the Hol.ston and Clinch rivers, losing manv men in killed and 
wounded. May 11, 1864, they joined Gen. W. T. Sherman's armv in front of 
Dalton, Georgia, wdiere it was assigned to the cavalry corps of the Army of the 
Ohio, commanded by General Stoneman. They engaged in the battle of 
Resaca, also Cassville, Kenesaw Mountain, etc.. aided in the cajiture of .\la- 
loona Pass, and' was first to take possession of and raise the flag upon Lost 
MountaiiL In Stoneman's raid to Macon. Georgia, the .Sixth Crualrv lost 
one hundred and sixty-six men. 

Returning to Na.shville for another ei|ui])ment, it .aided (leneral Rous.seau 



28o PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

in defeating Forrest at Pulaski. Tennessee. September 27th. and pursued him 
into Alabama. In the engagement at Pulaski the regiment lost twenty-three 
men. December 15th and i6th, it participated in the battle at Nashville, and 
after the repulse of Hood's army, followed it some distance. In June. 1865, 
a portion of the men were mustered out of service. The remainder was con- 
solidated with the residual fraction of the Fifth Cavalry, constituting the Sixth 
Cavalrv. and they were mustered out the following September. 

EIGHTY-FIFTH INFANTRY. 

Company D of this regiment was made up from the southern portion 
of Vermillion county. William Reeder, of Rockville. was captain until June 
10. 1863, and thenceforward Caleb Bales, of Toronto, was captain, being pro- 
moted from the rank of second lieutenant. The vacancy thus made was filled 
bv Elisha Pierce of Clinton, who was promoted from the office of first ser- 
geant. The sergeants were James W. Taylor, of Toronto : W'illiam A. Rich- 
ardson. John .-V. C. Norris and David ]\Iitchell. of Clinton; and the corporals 
were Brazier E. Henderson, Ben White. Samuel Craig. James Andrews. 
Valentine Foos. Harrison Pierce, Joseph Foos and Wesley A. Brown. The 
musicians were Andrew J. Owen and John A. Curry. 

The colonels of this regiment were John P. Baird of Terre Haute, to July 
20, 1864, and Alexander R. Crane, of the same city, until the mustering out of 
the regiment. 

This regiment was organized at Terre Haute September 2. 1862. Its first 
engagement -was with Forrest, with Col. John Coburn's brigade. March 5. 
1863. when the whole brigade was captured. The men were marched to Tulla- 
homa, and then transixjrted to Libby Prison at Richmond, amid much suffer- 
ing, manv dving along the route. Twenty-six days after their incarceration 
the men were exchanged, and were stationed at Franklin, Tennessee, where 
they fought in skirmishes until Bragg"s army fell back. The following sum- 
mer, fall and winter the Eighty-fifth remained in the vicinity of Murfreesboro, 
guarding the railroad from Nashville to Chattanooga. It took part in every 
important engagement in the Atlanta catrtpaign, being in the terrible charge 
upon Resaca, and in the battles at Cassville, Dallas Woods, Golgotha Church, 
Culp's Farm and Peach Tree Creek. .\t the last named place it did deadly 
work among the Rebel forces. 

This regiment followed Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and 
back through the two Carolinas. engaging in numerous battles. At Averas- 
boro it was the directing regiment, charging the Rebel works through an open 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 281 

field, but suffered ijreatly. Tt de-;troyed a half mile of railroad in forty min- 
utes time, corduroyiuij many miles of wagon road, and after a twenty-mile 
march one day it worked hard all night making a road up a steep, muddy 
bluff, for which they were highly complimented by Generals Sherman and 
Slocum, who had given directions for the work and were eye witnesses to its 
execution, .\fter se\eral other important improvements, it had the pleasure 
of looking as proud victors upon Libby Prison, where so many of them had 
suffered in captivity in 1862. Marching on to Washington. D. C, it was 
mustered out of service June 12, 1865. The remaining recruits were trans- 
ferred to the Thirty-third Indiana Regiment, who were mustered out July 21st, 
at Louisville. Kentucky. 

THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY. 

Of this gallant regiment, Company K was from Vermillion county, and 
it was recruited from the tenth congressional district during the winter of 
1863-64, rendezvoused at Michigan City, and was mustered into service March 
I, 1864, with Charles Case, of Fort Wayne, as colonel, and Charles A. 
Zollinger, of the same city, as lieutenant-colonel. Of Company K, John O. 
Washburn, of Newport, was captain: Joseph Simpson, of Highland, first lieu- 
tenant, and the second lieutenants in succession were Thomas C. Swan, of 
Clinton, Joseph Simpson, of Highland, William F. Eddy, of Warsaw, and 
James Rol>erts, of Clinton. Henry J. Howard, of Toronto, was sergeant. 
Corporals. Jasper Hollingsworth, Granville Gideon and John W. Nixon, of 
Vermillion county, with members from other counties. After much long 
marching, the first battle in which this regiment took part was the' severe con- 
test at Resaca. opening the celelirated campaign of Atlanta. This was a great 
victory for the L'nion trooi)s. The next battle w as that at New Hope Church. 
Before and after this, howexcr, there was almost constant skirmishing, in verv 
rainy weather. July 19, 1864. the regiment was engaged in a severe fight 
near Decatur. Georgia, where they lost heavily. Soon afterward they were 
in the fight at Strawberiy Run, where they lost twenty-five men, but enabled 
General Hascall to turn a position which our forces, a brigade of General 
Schofield's corps, had failed to turn the day before. Then on until mid-winter 
the regiment was kept guarding and engaging in skirmishes. November 29th, 
occurred the battle of Franklin, where the enemy were repulsed with great 
loss. During the latter portion of the winter they were marching and battling 
near the coast of Virginia and North Carolina, and engaged in the battle of 
Wise's Forks, where the enemy met with signal disaster. The regiment was 



282 PARKE .\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

engaged in provost duty about Raleigh during the summer of 1865. and on 
August 29th was mustered out of senice. 

CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

The foregoing is l>ut an outline of what transpired at home and in the 
Southland during the years of that long-drawn-out war, in which brother took 
up arms against brother, and in which family ties were broken asunder, never 
to be reunited again. \\'hi!e the soldiers above mentioned were doing their 
part bra\ely and well, in field and on marcli, those remaining at home were 
busy at raising funds with which to support and maintain the families of the 
volunteers, as well as in numerous ways help the general government to carry 
on the war, which- all loyal patriots believed was a just war. Every town- 
ship in this CDunty had its aid societies and relief funds. Men and women 
were alive to the pressing demands for hospital supplies for the men who had 
been sent to the front. The county commissioners, from time to time, levied 
taxes for the furtherance of the cause in the field. Bounties were freely paid 
and each patriot vied with his neighbor in seeing how much he could do toward 
relieving suffering at home and in the tented field. 

It is not possible to give a complete list of the soldiers from this county, 
and the larger part of those who donned the loyal blue, from 1861 to 1865, 
have long since answered the last roll-call, some being asleep under Southern 
skies, while the remainder are buried in home cemeteries and their graves are 
cared for and tenderly decorated with the return of each ^Memorial dav. Be 
it said with a just pride, that Vermillion countv was loyal to the Union cause. 
Its sacrifice was indeed great, but its victory was an eternal gain — an everlast- 
ing inheritance to the oncoming generations who shall here reap the just re- 
ward of liberty and union. 

The records show that A'ermillion county raised funds in Civil war days 
as follows : 

Bounties $ 76,032 

Relief for Soldiers' Families 41,839 

Miscellaneous Funds 986 

■ Total $119,547 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 283 

ENTRIES FROM A SOI-DIER's DIARY. 

Tlic foUuwing- paragraphs ha\e Ijeen extracted from the prixate chary 
kept by Edwin C. Bishop, of Clinton, who was in the Engineering Corps of the 
Union arniw and a inenilx-r of the Eighteenth Indiana Infantry. These are 
cliietl) paragraphs of letters that he wrote home to his parents and brothers, 
and throw mnch light on the inside life and private opinions of soldiers who 
marched and fought in the Rebellion from 1861 to 1S65. Finally this brave 
man sacrified his life at Cedar Creek, near the close of the conflict. We are 
indebted to L. O. Bishop, of the Saturday Argus ( a nephew), for the manu- 
script transcript from which the following is quoted : 

"Spring"field, Missouri, Nov. 5, 1861. 
■'Friends at Home : — Since 1 w rote to you last there have been some stir- 
ring times out here. 1 did not think then that within three hours we would 
be on a forced march : but such was the case. We received orders to march 
immediately and started just at sunset. After marching twelve miles we 
stopped for the night, built our camp fires and slept bv them. The next morn- 
ing we took up our line of march and stopped at eleven o'clock to get break- 
fast. We cooked all our provisions and filled our ha\ersacks, and got ready 
for a hard march and a fight. We had halted in a prairie and when we 
started the long line of soldiers showed to a good advantage : it w as a nice little 
armv of about se\'enteen thousand men. It was enough to make one feel like 
fighting to see so many in one line going onward to battle. In the morning 
the new^s came that we would have to cut our way through the Rebel army to 
Fremont; upon hearing this the enthusiasm became ^■er\• great and the soldiers 
would ])ress forward and "Forward" was the cr_\-. \\"e got to within se\en 
luiles of .Springfield that day and stopped to rest. .Vfter that we went to 
within a half mile of town, expecting to begin the fight in the morning. But 
we were disappointed, for in the morning Fremont w'ent past and camped 
with his guards and Indians on the road to St. Louis, he ha\ing been su])er- 
scded. and we found that Price was not near here, 'inhere is now an army of 
fifty thousand men here, who all expected to fight when they got here. We 
are under the command of General Hunter. We do not know, but many be- 
lieve that we will be sent to 'Old Kaintuck.' Our tents came up today, .so we 
are at home again. We have not got over our disappointment of not finding 
Price, after running all over the state. The dirty .skunk has got away without 
our men getting a chance to see hiui. It is most time to get dinner and 1 u il! 



284 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

have to quit l^etore long. I guess I shall do some washing this afternoon. 
Lon is washing now. Give my respects to all, 

"Ed. C. Bishop." 



"Little Sugar Creek, Ark., ]\[arch 12. 1862. 
"Dear Father : — I suppose it is with feelings of anxiety you receive this 
letter, for 1 suppose vou heard of our great fight. When I wrote last I was 
on the picket, and that evening I was relieved and went to camp. That night 
about twelve o'clock we were ordered to cook two days' rations. ^ The next 
morning we packed up our things and sent the wagons back about one mile. 
Then we went onto a hill not far from our camp and commenced throwing up 
earth-works. Our battery and the Eighth Regiment w ere on a hill to our left. 
That evening we heard the firing between Siegel and the Rebels. We had 
been fighting on a retreat from a cross hollow. The next morning we went to 
our wagons to cook some rations ; but were soon ordered back to our breast- 
works; then we were ordered to the rear, as the enemy had come up on that 
side. By this time the firing had become very heavy and sharp. We came 
up in front of the enemy's right wing, composed of their best troops under 
McCulloch ; they had Indians. I cannot tell you in words so that you will 
understand, so T will tell you some, and draw a plan of the field, ^^'hite's 
brigade, composed of the Thirty-seventh and Fifty-ninth Illinois Regiments 
went in first, Init were driven back, and then by a skillful mo\ement the Rebels 
were driven back and our battery saved. This was the first day of the battle 
we were in ; I was not in the second day ; I got lost from the company in the 
night and was put on guard over the prisoners. I have not heard the loss on 
either side : but T think ours was about one hundred and twentv killed and two 
bundred wounded. T understand the Rebels left from two hundred and fiftv 
to three hundred on the field. We have alx)ut three hundred prisoners. The 
Rebels left the field in a hurry, leading sexeral hundred stand of arms along the 
road. 

"Good Bye for this time. 

"E. C. B." 



"Helena, Ark., August 30, 1862. 
"Friends at Home : — I am as w ell as could be expected and the company 
is in good spirits. I understand that fi\e lx)ats are to start for White river 
this morning. I do not know the object of the expedition: it max l^e a scout- 
ing party, perhajis it is going to gather cotton. It is rumored that the Rebels, 



PARKE AND VKRMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 285 

torlv thousand strony, are adxanciiii; on this jilace. and these l)oats may be 
sent up White river to keep them fmni crossing, but 1 do not l)elie\e tiiat there 
are that many Rebels in this state; however, it there are tliat many, 1 do not 
believe the}- can whip us. They are building some fcjrtifications here which 
are to mount thirt\-t\\o-pounders. This seems to me to be a good place for a 
fortification, as the ri\er can l)e seen for a ilistance of elexen nnles down and 
four or five up .stream, from a ridge that runs through town and it is se])arated 
from the blui¥ by a hollow. The ground is such that a battcr\- could not 
charge upon, so the only way to dislodge troops would be to shell them or 
starve them out, either of which wi>uld l)e hard to do, as long as the ri\er is 
kept open. I understand that this is to be the military capital instead of Little 
Rock. We are having very good times here, for since it has come to be the 
policy to subsist on the country in which the war is carried on, the boys have 
most e\erylhing this country is able to raise. Xo longer are the corn fields 
guarded, so that 'roasting ears' can be had without paying two prices or run- 
ning the risk of getting into the guard-house. There is an old 'secesh' living 
in our camp or rather it was built around liini. \A'hen we came here he had 
lots of tee hives; there are none now ; Init thaf is all right for he gave two 
thousand five hundred dollars to buih.l gund)oats and was tanning leather for 
old Jeff Thompson; but the leather was not finished, so our men are having 
him finish it for us. .At first taking wagons and other [)ropert\- l)elonging to 
the Rebels was a low thing; now it is the only thing that can be done. I have 
found out how the thing worked; every Rebel was out fighting against us, 
while the darkies raised corn; we will have to .stop their supplies, and then 
gi\e them a whipping. 

•'Yours, E. C. B." 



"November 21, 1862. 
"Dear Friends; — The sentence for sleeping on one's post is to forfeit 
one month's pay; march ten days, four hours a day, in front of the colonel's 
quarters, wearing a head-dress I>arrel bearing this inscription, 'T slept on_ my 
post.' " 



"Patterson, November 18, 1862. 
"Dear Friends at Home: — I will commence this letter tonight. I re- 
cei\ed those things you sent me. and the long letter; I tell you it does a soldier 
good to get long letters. Captain Bell brought some good butter from home 
and also a cooked chicken, which with the bread you sent me made a good 
breakfast; a real 'Hoosier breakfast.' The bread tasted home-like, and the 



286 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

can of peaches which we ate for dinner was excellent — all acknowledged them 
the best they had eaten for a long time. Captain brought a can of peaches and 
I am going to make a pie of them. \ow you may laugh, when I speak of 
cooking, but I tell you I can cook some. I and Lon went out of camp to try 
our rifles ; for a long time I was busy cleaning my gun. You may think half 
a day a long time to be cleaning a gun ; but it is as bright as a new silver dollar 
all o\er. I have a splendid rifle : it is a S])ringfield rifle and I would not take 
in trade for it one of the much boasted Enfield rifles. \\'hile we were out I 
saw a squirrel, and thought 1 would like to try my gun on him; so Lon went 
around the tree and made a noise and that scared the squirrel around to my 
side of the tree and I shot him. Well I must quit and go to bed : perhaps you 
would like to know about my bed. Well, we get corn stalks and put them on 
the ground and o\er them are spread t\\ o blankets and our oil cloth. Then we 
have three blankets over the three of us. 

"There were some five or six thousand Reljels building winter quarters 
on Black ri\'er, but we went down and shelled them ; they run, leaving all be- 
hind, and lia\e not been seen or heard of since. 

"Yours, 

"Ed." 



"January i, 1863. 
"Today another year is ushered into Time's great circle; another year 
to witness the unhappy state of our country. Shall this year see the end of 
this great war? I see by looking around me that all are of the same opinion 
and mind. Xone wish to see '63' grow old and die without seeing the traitor 
meet his doom; without seeing the American eagle sit in peace upon the ])al- 
metto undisturbed by the serpent that crawls at its foot. How different the 
scenes of today and former New Year days, when all was peace. Then the 
cannon's loud roar broke upon the ear telling only of jo}- and mirth ; now that 
roar speaks of bloodshed and e\-er}- boom sinks deeper into the heart as we 
think of the souls then sent and perhaps transported to meet their God. Then 
proud hearts that ha\e long since gone to rest engaged in the merr\- dance and 
tried to lose sight of time for a little while. Those that are left are soldiers, 
tossed on the battle-stained waves of war ; they are changed ; time and hard- 
ships of a soldier's life have made their impressions. The once light, loving 
heart has been turned to stone, by constantly coming in contact with scenes 
of strife. "Yours, 

"E. C. B." 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 287 

"Milligan Bend, April 3. 1863. 
"Friends: — I do not feel niucli like writing. 1 came inlo my (|uarters 
last night and found those things you sent me had come. We got them up 
from the landing about ten o'clock and went to work to see what there was. 
Most of the things were spoiled: some cakes were good: but all the bread and 
pies were spoiled. Some of the green apples were good : they w ere fpiite a 
treat, for they are from fifteen to twenty-five cents ajjiece here now. The 
boots you sent were too large. Some of the furlonghed boys are fast coming 
back into camp. We are fifteen miles from \'icksburg and twenty-five by 
river. No news from Yazoo, and we do not know what is going on around 
us, as much as you do there. We can hear the shelling at Vicksburg. when- 
ever there is any going on there. Our position is at the siege as follows : 
First United States Infantry, Eighth, Thirty-Third and Xinty-Xinth Illinois. 
a battery of six pieces, siege guns and all stationed at the mouth of the canal 
opposite Vicksburg. We are in the Fourteenth Division and the Thirteenth 
Army Corps: our brigade is under General Baxter. I found a piece of poetry 
in the box you sent entitled 'Com.e Home.' T say : 

How gladly would I do it, 

And sta\- with nn- friends for ever. 
But first let us down with the Rebels. 

That our Union are trying to sever. 

■"Fnwi.v C." 



"X'ear Vicksburg, Miss.. June u. 1S63. 
"M\' Dear Sister: — I will send you a few lines to let you know T am alive 
and well. \Ye had a battle at Champion's Hill. The Rebels run, as usual, 
and we had a fine time overhauling their knapsacks, which they left at Edwards 
Station. We all got clean clothes, tobacco, w riting paper, etc. This sheet is 
one I got : captured enough to last for a while. We took in two or three regi- 
ments at the ridge: they stuck cotton in their guns and ba\onets, when the 
charge be.gan, and turned and run for the bridge. I ha\e not found anv good 
place from which T can make a map of this field. I went to a ])lace and was 
trying to make a map of the field, but was shot at several times, so I left. 
The Rebels do not fire much. They opened a few guns this morning, but soon 
found that place too hot for them. Deserters come in all the time: they all 
tell different tales, and we do not know which to believe. Bui 1 guess thev 
have hard times: one of the Iowa boys gave a deserter his breakfast, and he 
ate four crackers, one loaf of bread, a lot of jiotatoes and liam. and drunk five 



288 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

cups of Strong coffee. He told General Lawler that he had had but little for a 
week. We hear they can hold out fifteen days. The boys are in fine spirits. 
\\'hen they want a little exercise, they take their guns and go out to the rifle 
pits and take a few shots at the Rebels, if they can see one to shoot at. I have 
sent several dispatches to them to get in. What 'Rebs' are in tiie city are 
surely ours, unless they dig out under the hill. I guess after we get this place 
we will have to go over and help the boys in the Army of the Potomac; poor 
fellows, never were intended to fight, and not in the least frightened about 
Johnson. We will run him all over the state for a breakfast spell and take 
him in for dinner. I am now about four feet in the ground and feel perfectly 
safe. Write soon to yours, 

"Edwin." 



ClIAI'Tl'.K \ II. 

EDLCATIOXAI, IMSI(1K\- (II-' \KK.\I 1 1 .1.11 1\ lOrXTV. 

.\rlicle 7, section i. of the constitutinii nf Indiana, derlarcd that: 
"J\.nu\\ ledge and learning generally diffused througliout a conininnitN . being 
essential to the preservation of a free government, it shall he the duty of the 
go\ernmeiit 1>\ its (leneral Assembly to encourage, by all suitable means, 
moral, intellectual, scientific and agricultur.al impro\emeiUs. and to provide by 
law for a general and uniform system of common schools, wherein tuition shall 
be without charge and equally open to all." 

No .state or territory has manifested an eipially profound and intelligent 
interest in the subject of education .as has Indiana, commencing with the terri- 
torial existence in 1800. While the Congress of the United States, under 
the controlling influence of Jefferson, had been wise and far-seeing on this 
subject, yet it is a fact that in the organization of the new territories and states 
that body was more or less influenced by the men who api)roached Congress 
in the interests of the new municipality — men who were identified with it. 
And according to whom these men were and the suggestion that they would 
urge, would be nianv of the [)rovisions in the enabling acts on the subject of 
schools. 

liberal ])ro\ision had been made by the general goxernnient for |)opular 
education in all the Xorthwestern states. Before any of these states had been 
formed, while the general territor\- in w hich they were embraced was a w ilder- 
ness. inhabited almost exclusively by savages. Congress, on the 20th of May, 
1785, passed an ordinance reserving every sixteenth section of land in the 
whole territory northwest of the river Ohio for the maintenance of ])ublic 
schools. Two \ears later, in the famous ordinance of 17S7. it was decl;ired 
that "religion, morality and knowledge lieing necessary to good go\ernment 
and the happiness of mankind, .schools, and the means of education, shall be 
forever encouraged.' 

In Indiana there was from the first a class of public-s])irited men who 

were the friends and earnest advocates of popular education. Tn 1807 an act 

was passed by the General Assembly of the territory, for the incoi-poration of a 

nniversitv at \'incennes. The first board of trustees of this universitv named 

(19) 



290 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

in tlie incorporating act were men of large and liberal ideas of education. 
They reflected the true spirit of the framers of the ordinance of 1787. In the 
preamble to the incorporating act it was declared that "the independence, 
happiness and energy of every republic depended (under the influence of the 
destinies of heaven) upon the wisdom, \-irtue, talents and energy of its citizens 
and rulers ; that science, literature and the liljeral arts contrilmted in an eminent 
degree to improve those qualities and acquirements, and that learning had ever 
been found the ablest advocate of genuine liberty, the best supporter of rational 
religion, and the source nf the onlv solicl and imperishable glorv which nations 
can acquire." 

The only acts passed with regard to the school lands b\' the Territorial 
Legislature were those of October 26. 1808, and December 14, 1810. The 
former invested the several courts of common pleas in the territory with full 
])0wer to lease the sections of land reserved for the use of s-:huols in the se\'eral 
counties, restricting the leases to five years and making it obligator}- ujiou the 
lessees to clear ten acres upon each quarter section. The latter act authorized 
the courts of common pleas to apix)int trustees of the school lands in the sev- 
eral counties, and prohibited the wasting of sugar trees and timber thereon. 

(^n January 9, 1821, the General Assembly appointed a committee to 
draft and report to the next Legislature a bill providing for a general system 
of education, with instructions to guard particularly against "any distinction 
between the rich and the poor." This committee drew up the first general 
school laws of Indiana. The space allotted us forbids e\en a catalogue of 
the various enactments of the Genera! Assembly on the subject of the jHiblic 
schools since the organization of the state government. Almost every session 
has witnessed the passage of either general or special laws pertaining to educa- 
tion in some form, either to the common schools or the incorporation of semi- 
naries, academies, colleges, universities or public libraries : and the successive 
governors of the state ha\e favored the interests of popular education. 

Vermillion county has always taken inuch care to proxide the best schools 
possible, both public and private. The last log cabin school house was super- 
seded more than forty years ago by the more modern frame and brick build- 
ings. A quarter of a century ago this county had school buildings as follows : 
Clinton township, brick, three ; frame, nine. Helt township, brick, three : 
frame, twenty, ^^ermillion township, brick, one: frame, twelve. Eugene 
township brick, one: frame, seven. Highland township, brick, one: frame, 
eleven. Total, nine brick buildings: fifty-nine frame. 

In 1887 the estimated value of school houses and lots was $5c;,ooo; of 
school apparatus, globes, maps, etc., about $4,000. Number of teachers 



PARKE AND VEKM U.l.ION COL'XTIES, INDIANA. 2gi. 

employed in the county, eij^iity-fixe. Tlic nunil)cr ul" children of school age 
(from six to twenty-one years) in i88t) was 4,_'9i. and the enrollment in 
the schools ui the county was 3,467, or about eighty per cent. 

In Clinton township the first school house was a log structure of the 
most jirimitive type, located at L)avid.son"s hill, one mile northeast of Clinton. 
There the onlv school books were the Knglish reader, Webster's elementary 
speller and the New Testament, with now and then a copy of I)a1)oirs arith- 
metic. Since then a remarkable growth has been seen with the ushering in 
and carrying forward of the free public school system, which many in the 
state bitterly opposed at the time, because of their lack of wisdom. 

Two or more attempts have Iwen made to locate special educational in- 
stitutions, including the one just before tlie Ci\il war, knuwii as Myram d. 
Towsley's Military Institute and the h'arnier's College, which went down on 
account of the coming on of the Rebellion in 1861. A portion of the large 
frame building tliat was tn be used perm;inently for that institution was 
afterward converted into an opera house, and its wings into dwellings. 

In Helt township the first school was taught prior to 1830, on the prairie. 

Newport, the county seat, has always been a good school town, and kept 
abreast with the times in e\er\- advance made in im])ro\-ed educational 
methods. In pioneer days, according to the state law, a county seminary was 
established here, as in all other county-seat towns. It flourished until the 
going out of the old private or subscription schools and the introduction of 
that better plan of the present common school, the free school system, when it 
was converted into a graded school about 185J. The building was a brick 
structure. .Additions were made to it from time to time and it was still in 
use in the nineties. Its location was on the heights overlooking the romantic 
scenes of the charming Little Vermilliou rixer. Two of the additions were 
made by the town of Newport at an expense of one thousand dollars. The 
town |)urchased the propert}- from the townshi]), when the municipality took 
it oxer and has had charge of the same since 1886. 

The advancement made in public school affairs in this county with the 
passing of a half century are indeed \ery great. This change is noted tiie 
more vividly, when one contemplates the old log school house down b\- the 
creek, or out on the prairies, in wdiich were taught the simjtlest rudiments of 
an education, under the hardships of a slab seat, a puncheon floor, and a fire- 
place for heating the same in the long, cold winter day. It goes without 
saying that children of today ought to master their studies more rapidlv and 
better than did their grandparents, and thank a higher order of Christian 
civilization for the most excellent school .system that now obtains frf)m one 
end of the countrv to the other, \\niile there were manv noble, brainv, well- 



292 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

educated men of the Hoosier state who attended these pioneer schools, the 
larger per cent, of all those who attended those early-day schools never 
achieved any great educational accomplishments. .\11 praise to the present 
public school system. 

PRESENT STANDING OF VERMILLION COr.XTV SCHOOLS. 

The subjoined statistics will show the condition of the schools in the 
various townships in Vermillion countv. according to the suijerintendent's 
annual report for 191 2, including the items of teachers, buildings, wages, 
apportionments, etc, : 

School ;\Iale Female. Daily Wages. .Vpixjr- 

Houses. Teachers. Teachers. Male. Female, tionment. 

Clinton township 14 5 21 $3.10 $2.40 $44,031 

Eugene township 5 2 6 3.25 2.84 8,620 

Helt township 13 5 21 4,00 3.12 32.509 

Highland township 10 5 11 4.00 3.00 13.032 

Vermillion township 11 3 7 3.30 2.79 10,781 

The number of graduates from the higli school last year was : Helt 
township, 11; Perrysville, 9; Cayuga. 3; Dana, 11: Newport, 8: Clinton, ig. 

There is one Carnegie Library-, connected with the city and township of 
Clinton. All of the district schools have small permanent liliraries. The 
present county school superintendent. ji)hn P>. Butler, has been serving in an 
acceptable manner since 1907. 

By a school enumeration for X'ermillion county, taken in Alay, 1910, 
the following facts were brought out concerning the school population : The 
number of school age in the sexeral townships and towns of the county was 
as follows: Clinton township. 844; Eugene township, 331; Helt township. 
804; Highland township, 478; Vermillion township, 366: Cayuga town, 
212; Dana town, 206; Newport town. 163; city of Clinton, 1,468. The 
totals for the years 1907 and igio, inclusive, were : J907', 4,627: 1908, 4,818: 
1909, 4,792: 1910, 4,872. 

About 1904 the consolidated country school system was established in 
Helt township this county, and lias proven a grand success. It gives the 
pupils a better, easier method of getting to and from school, and at no in- 
creased expense, all things counted, than under the separate school district 
system. This school is counted one of the "model" schools in Indiana. It is 
a delightful sight to see the several teams lined uj) ready to receive the chil- 
dren when school closes each day. They are carried in hacks to and from 
their homes, a radical change for the better. It is believed that this system 
will ere long Ijecome universal in the country school districts in the state. 



CHAPTER \ III. 



CHURCHES OF NERMII.I.TOX COl-NTY. 



PRESBYTERIAX CHURCHES. 



The tirst deiKiininatiun in tliis comitx' to erect a house ol wDrship was the 
I'lesbyterians, who ori^aiiized at Clinton in iS,^i, aided by the Methodists. 
Running down in the course of years, in 1834 they reorganized their society, 
under Rew John (Jerrish. of Helt township, who (hed in the spring of 1887. 
in ixansas. Jn 1S87 there were lift\-ti\e members in the Clinton I'resbyterian 
church, the ruling elders being at that date E. \ . Brown and 1 )a\id .McBeth. 
.\ Sunda\- school was then maintained the year roimd. witli an axerage at- 
tendance of ninetx' pupils. I\e\ . L. C. Haw 1). 1).. of Terre 1 laute, was then 
serving as a stated supply for this churcli. commencing with February, 1887. 
Earlier pastors and supplies were Revs. James Boggs, in 1855: John A. Tiff- 
ner. two to three years: John Hawks, of Rockville. about the same length of 
time: Thonuis (irilVuh. of Montezuma, four \ears, and L. 11. l)a\idson. The 
first churcli building was coinerted into a barn. A new house of worship, 
erected about 185J, was a frame building, fortv 1)\' se\ent\- feet, located cen- 
trally, on the school house lot. The present church was erected of brick in 
1896 at a cost of ten thousand dollars. Membership, one hundred and fifty. 

Other pastors have been: Revs. William Mitchell. ( ieorge .McColIough. 
L. Ct. Hay, A. M. >tooke, J. T. Hutchinson, C. II. Hoffoce, E. W. Sanders. 
C. E. Fowler. II W. White, and the jjresent ])asior. Rev. S. \'. Sydenstricker, 
who began in March, i(;io. 

Toronto i'resli^terian church was organized either 1850 or 1851, l)v 
Rev. (ierrish. The church, which was built during 1852, was a frame struc- 
ture thirty Ijy forty feet in' size, and in i8t)0 was still in good .state of pres- 
ervation. Among the e;ir]y members of the church were James .\. Elder 
and wife. Samuel Ekler and wife. Rev. John .\. Tiffany was pastor from 1858 
to 1866. In 1887 the number of communicants was about twenty. A union 
prayer meeting was maintained by the Methodists, Presbyterians and Bap- 
tists. 

The Toronto Presbyterian church, at Bono, was organized manv years 
ago, but later the membership largely went to other points, as the country 



294 PARKE .\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

settled up, many going to the church at Uana. There a neat church was luiih 
of frame, thirty-six by forty feet, besides a "rostrum" eight by fourteen feet. 
Its cost was al)out t\\ o thousantl eight hundred dollars, not counting i^ews and 
other fixtures. It was dedicated June 26, 1887, by Rev. T. D. Fyfife, of 
Roseville, Indiana. The leading men in building \\ere W. AI. Taylor, Samuel 
Aikman and Samuel Hall. This building is still in use. 

At Newport the Presbyterians were early in the field, but allowed the 
first society to run down. It was reorganized in the spring of 1875, b\- Rev. 
Mitchell, of Clinton, with only seven members. The ruling elders were M. G. 
Rhoades and I. B. Fusselman, later of Dan\ille. About 1847 a frame church 
was erected, forty by fifty feet, on Market street, east of the public square. 
This was erected soon after the organization was effected. Later it was occu- 
pied bv the United Brethren. The society was never very strong at New- 
port, other churches having held the field. 

The Eugene Presbyterian church was first organized in 1826, when the 
first meetings were held in the house of William Thompson, a log cabin a 
little west of the depot on the Big \'ermillion river. .\t first its name was 
the "River and Countv \'erniillion Church," and comprised, April 26, 1826, 
Asa Palmer, William Thompson, William Wilson, Ann Wilson, William 
Armour, Ruhama Armour. Eliza Rodman, Hannah Laughlin. Margaret 
Caldwell, Mary West, ]\Iary Thomp.son, Lucy Thompson, and Susan Wilson. 
The first minister was Rew James Hummer, who was succeeded by Revs. 
Baldridge, Kingsbruy, Cozad, Conklin, C. K. Thompson, Venable Crosby, 
Henry M. Bacon and W. Y. Allen, of Rockville. In 1887 this church had a 
membership of fifty-two. The second place of meeting was a brick dwelling, 
and the third place a neat frame church, thirty-six by sixty feet, erected in 
1859 in partnership with the Methodist people. Its cost was three thousand 
dollars; it was erected centrally in tiie village of Eugene. Later the church 
interests were removed to Cayuga and in 1902 a fine brick church building 
was erected, bearing the inscription, "Eugene 1823 — Memorial — Cayuga, 
1902." It is located in the best part of the western portion of the town. 

What was styled Mount Olivet Cumlierland Presbyterian church was 
located three and a half miles southwest of Eugene. 

At Perrysville a Presbyterian church w as organized at an early day and 
after struggling along many years finally dissolved, when it only mustered 
fifteen members. Their house of worship, which they purchased from the 
Universalist society, became unsafe, and in 1882 was sold for one hundred 
and fifty dollars and later torn down. There was no regular preaching .ifter 
1873, when there was twenty-one members. 



PARKE AND VKRMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 295 

BAPTIST t'lUKtllES. 

Riddle's Prairie Baptist church. — In 1852 a branch or mission of the 
Bloomtield Baptist church was organized at Toronto, and in July, 1833, it 
was reorganized as a separate bod_v in the Toronto Presbyterian church, by 
Rev. Ci. W. Riley. Revs. John and (i. W. Riley were preachers in 1832. the 
latter named l)eing tiie first pastor. L'p to August, 1861, the following served 
as pa.stors or supplies; Rev. Joseph Shirk, William .McAlasters and A. J. 
Riley: thence on down later came Revs. William McMasters. .\lelvm .\lc- 
Kee, William McMasters, Melvin McKee, D. S. French, W illiam McMasters, 
A. J. Riley, G. T. Willis, J. M. Kendall, 1883 ; W. T. Cuppy, 1886-87. 

The Tennessee Valley Baptist church was organized in September, 1872, 
in the Staats school house by Rev. William McMasters, who had preached 
there some time previousl}', when it was known as the "mission." Rev. 
William McMasters was pastor of this church until his death, in i88(), being 
succeeded by Rev. John H. Rusmisel. In 1873 a neat frame church was pro- 
sided at a cost of one thousand six hundred dollars. It was built in the north- 
east ([uarter of section 18, township 13, range 9 west. Present membership 
is one hundred. 

Dana Baptist church was formed in 1880, with twelve members, by Rev. 
G. T. Willis. Among the early pastors now disclosed by the records Were 
Revs. Willis, Cartwright, William McMasters. Palmer and l-'ranklin. The 
church building, a fancy brick structure, thirty-six b\- sixt\ feet, in the north- 
ern part of the village of Dana, was ))uilt in 1887 at a cost of twn ihous.ind 
five hundred dollars. 

lloijewell Baptist church, a fr;ime building about two miles north ot 
Gessie, was the place of meeting of a society which was organized \ery early 
in the county's history by the Rabourns. .V difficult}- arose over Freemasonry. 
one side holding" to the order, while the other pulled out of C liristian fellow- 
ship on account of this fraternity. The two factions were called ".Stippites" 
and "Johnsonites," after the two leading sjjirits of the Masonic and anti- 
Masonic factions. This split the little church into two parts, ;md neither 
flourished after that. 

.\t Clinton the Baptist church is young in years, it ba\ ing been organized 
in HJ09 with twenty-two members, which has now grown to a membership of 
ninety-four. .\ little more than three years ago a few Bai)tist families, desir- 
ing of having a church of their own faith, banded together and invited Rev. 
J. M. Kendall to preach to them occasionally, and August 18. 1909. with his 



2g6 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

assistance, organized the First Baptist church of Chntoii. Indiana, with 
twenty-two meml^ers. About eight months after the organization of the 
church the pastor resigned because of other pressing duties. The following 
July the state convention sent ^Irs. X. B. Leslie to this important field, and 
under her care the work progressed rapidly, including a flourishing, modern 
planned Sundav school. On .March ist, this devoted woman was sent to other 
fields. Then the membership of the church had reached ninety communicants. 
A lot was purchased upon which to erect a church, the price paid being one 
thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars; it is at the corner of Fifth and 
Walnut streets, an ideal location. March i. 1912. the present pastor. Rev. 
-\. v.. C"!em, was called, since which he has devoted his entire time to building 
up the interests of the church and attending to the duties of raising funds 
with which to erect the new church, which has its foundation in ( December. 
1()12) an<l when completed will cost about twent}" thousand dollars. It is to 
be of faced brick and stone trimmings, witli full-sized basement, fifty-six by 
eightv feet, wherein \\ ill be situated Sunda\" school rooms, kitchen, gvmnas- 
ium. etc. In the summer of i()ij great tent meetings were held and as a 
result there were added to the church, under Pastor Clem and the e\angelist, 
Charles F. \\'atkins, more than twent\-five more members. In all. the so- 
ciet\' now has a membership of almost two hundred. 

The Baptist churches in \'ermillion county at this date are the one at 
Clinton, the one at a point in Helt township, known as Tennessee \'allev 
church, with a hundred niembers : one at Dana, which had in 191 i ninetv-six 
members, and property valued at three thousand five hundred dollars. 

THE UNITED HRKTllkEX CHURCH. 

Perhaps the earliest organizaliun of this denomination in \erniillion 
county was formed as early as 1837. This was the church at llaneman 
Chapel, formed at the house of Christopher Haneman. In 1837 a class was 
formed by a few members of that faith, including Christopher Haneman and 
wife, Harriet McDowel, George \\ellman and wife, Jeremiah Hammond and 
wife. Silas Hollingsworth and wife, Emily Bales and Isaac Johnson and wife. 
A brick church was erected in 1842, but not completed until 1872, thirty vears 
later. It stood on section 6. township 15, range 9. Among the pioneer min- 
isters there may be recalled the names of Re\s. John Shoey. William Eckles. 
.\ndrew Wimset, Conyer, John Miller, Thomas Hamilton, Joseph Xve, Rev. 
Xugen, John .\. Ma.st and Sannicl Polls. In 1887 there were twentv-eight 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 297 

nienibers and l\e\-. S. S. Sims was pastor, and services were held once in 
three weeks. 

Midway United Brethren church was organized in 1857 by Rev. Joel 
Cogwill, with about fifteen members, in the Castle school house, which later 
was purchased and converted into a church building. It was twenty-two by 
thirty feet in size, and situated on section 13, township 13, range 10. Public 
.services were discontinued there in 1887. 

Bethel United Brethren church, two miles southwest of .Xewport. was 
organized many years ago. In 1887 the church enjoyed a membership of 
forty-eight. A church building was erected about 1862. 

Opedee Ignited Brethren church was organized about t88o. and in 1886 
Miss Wimsett was a steward. Meetings were held then in a school house. 
Ira Mater, of Hillsdale, was a minister in this church. Another class met at 
the Eggleston school house. B. F. Dungan. of Xewport. was pastor of all the 
Ignited Brethren churches in \'ermillion township in the eighties. 

.-\t Xewport the L'nited Brethren church was organized in 1870 bv Re\'. 
Samuel Garrigus. then a resident of Bellemore, Parke county. .\t first there 
were but fourteen members in this class, but b\' 1887 it had increased to ninety, 
chiefly under the ministrations of Rev. Dungan. .\t the date last luentioned 
the society worshiped in the Presbyterian church, on Market street. 

Another ven,- early church of this sect was the Cross-Roads L'nited 
Brethren church, two miles west of I'errysville. organized before 1848. .\ 
large frame church himse was built in carlv vears. In 1888 the meinbershi]) 
of this society was seventy -five. 

The Perrysville United Brethren clnn"ch was organized many years ago, 
and in 1887 was called an old society. .\t that time the church was a frame 
building, thirty-eight by forty-eight feet, erected about 1857. 

Mound Chapel United Brethren church was erected about 1875: was 
thirty by forty feet: located three and one-half miks north of Perrysville. 

Liberty class was organized in 1878 by Rew llcnr\ Xnrlan with sixteen 
members. 

At Gessie the United Brethren peo])le were organized in 1879 bv Rev. 
F. E. Penny, of Danville, Illinois, .\mong the earlier pastors in charge were 
Revs. J. .\. Smith, J. Knowles. Kaufiuan. S. (". Zook. J. R. Horner. .\ church 
edifice was erected by the Christians aliout 1877. a frame twentv-four bv forlv 
feet, costing one thousand dollars, and in 1879 thev .sold to the United Breth- 
ren. 



298 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES. 

The first Methodist organization in V'ermiUion county was effected some 
time previous to 1830, at the house of John Vannest, the first settler in the 
county. The class then comprised, besides Mr. Vannest and his half- 
brother, George Rush, James and Amos and Joseph Reeder and the Brannon 
family. The minister, who walked his rounds every four weeks, was of that 
good and old-fashioned Methodist type of ministers always lo\ed by his fol- 
lowers. Revs. Smith and McGinnis were among the zealous preachers of 
that early day. Itinerant Methodist ministers of pioneer times were noted 
for their energy and daring in threading the wild woods and prairies in search 
of the isolated settler, for the purpose of preaching to him the gospel and of 
organizing classes as soon as he could find enough to meet, coming from far 
and near. The early history of these \arious Methodist classes has become 
lost with the shuftle of passing vears, and we are obliged to leap forward in 
imagination over a half century in the history made by these faithful men 
and women, who first planted the good seeds of Methodism, the fruits of 
which this generation and those vet unborn are and shall reap from great 
spiritual gifts. 

Coming down to 1887 it is learned that the society at Clinton comprised 
ninety-four members. The class leader was tiien L. H. Beckman; stewards, 
James M. Ha)'es and Robert Allen. The pastor was Re\ . J. B. Combs. The 
circuit was in the (ireencastle district. Northwestern Indiana .conference, with 
Rev. .\. .\. Gee. of (ireencastle, as presiding elder. As to a houseof worship 
it may be stated that the Methodists here passed from the log cabin residence 
and the school house to a frame church, erected mainly by the Presbyterians 
in 183 1 ; and next to a frame building, thirty-eight bv si.xty feet, built about 
1852, at a cost of one thousand four hundred dollars. .Again in 1883 an im- 
posing brick edifice was erected, forty by eighty feet in ground measurements, 
at a cost of six thousand five hundred dollars. This Ijuilding, with some al- 
terations, is still doing service. 

Toronto Methodist Episcopal church was organized in Fel)ruary, 18^3, 
by Rev. John Lach. who died in 1867. .\mong the first memliers were John 
Jenks and family. \\'illiam Jordan and wife. Alnieda Jenks, John R. \\'ishard 
and wife, Mrs. Tiller Jenks and a few more. In 1875 a great and sweeping 
revival was held by Re\-. Jacob Mus.ser. In 1887 the church had a member- 
ship of sixty, with Stephen Jenks as class leader. Services were then held in 
the Presbvterian church bv Rev. William Smith. 



PARKE AND \ F.RM I I.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 299 

Al llillsdak- tlie Alellujdisl ICpiscupal cliurcli was ortjaiiiy.eil Jul) ii, 
1880, In- Rev. 'I'homas Bartlett, witli ihe folldwini; liK-mlKTsliip : John W. 
Caseheer. class leader (still living). S. R. James. Matilda James, Marj^aret 
Owens, Dr. E. Mack, Mrs. Mack, Martha Strowbridoe, Ella Casebeer, A. B. 
Caseheer, Sarah Wilson, Mary McLaughlin, Jane Williamson, Wallace 
Thompson. A'Irs. Thompson, Elizabeth Newell. K. WiUoii. riiDmas J. \\ ill- 
iamson, I'.ertie Casebeer. r.illy Ponton. Charles liassett and .Mrs. .Mary 
Marvin. 

A fine frame building was erected. thirt\-t'our 1j\- forty feet, costing one 
thousand siN hundred and fift)' dollars, in 1883-84. principall\' by the dona- 
tions of "Sister Bricker." The ground was donated by Mrs. Mary (libson. 
The first pastor here was l\e\ . J. V. McDaniels. Eollowing him came Revs. 
E. R. Johnson, Joy, J. T. Woods. W. A. Smith. Preaching was had on alter- 
nate weeks. The niembershii) in 1887 was twenty-fi\e. The class leader was 
at that date William Tincher. 

One of the oldest societies of this denomination was the old Salem Metho- 
dist Episcopal church, one mile north of Smnniit ( iroxe, where preaching 
after this faith was had by Rev. Chamberlain in 1821-22. The next preacher 
was Rev. Dr. \Villiam James, a \'irginian, who came to this county in October, 
1822, when he preached in the log barn of John Helt. and later in a small 
log cabin school house with split-pole seats. He preached and practiced medi- 
cine until 1826, when he started for New Orleans with a lx)at load of corn. 
and died en route. The next minister was Re\'. Warner, of Parke county, 
who organized the class in the spring of 1828. in the log school house on 
Kelt's ]jrairie. under the name of the "Helt's I'rairie Class." .Samuel l\\ar- 
son and wife were the principal members. Others were John Helt and wife, 
Samuel Rush and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Helt. Mrs. Mary Helt, I'Mmunfi James 
and wife. CoUon James and John James and wife. These faithful followers 
met at the school house and at the house of Samuel Rtish until 184(1, when 
they erected a frame house at the center of section 22, township 15. range 9 
west. In 1878 this building was sobl and a commodious brick structure 
erected on the old foundation, alxint thirty-two by sixtv feet, at a cost of 
two thousand eight hiuidred and thirt\-eight dollars. [u 1888 there were 
more than one hundred members in good standing and services were held 
every other Sal)bath. The jiastor was then Rev. W. .\. Smith ;ind the class 
leaders James Harrington. James .\. Miller, Wright James. .Martin llai-per 
and Erank Helt. 

Spring Hill class was organized in 1834 in the house of Joel Blakesley, 
with Samuel Rush and wife, loel P.lake.slev and wife. Zachariah D. lames and 



300 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

wife, Jane Ford, Sarali I'onton, Stephen Harrington and wife. William 
Kearns and wife. Lydia Jackson, Enoch \Miite and wife, Martha Ponton, 
Betsey Ponton, and Nathaniel Barnes and wife. In 1835 they built a hewed- 
log house, near the center of section 10. township 15, range 9, which they 
used for se\eral years. The class was then styled "Goshen." They next 
moved to the school house a half mile to the north. In 1879 they built, at a 
cost of one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five dollars, a frame church 
thirty by forty feet, and in 1888 had a membership of about thirty. At that 
date the society was known as Spring Hill. 

Asbur\- chapel was organized as early as 1830. named for old Bishop 
.\sliur\-. One of the first ministers there was Re\ . DeLap. Services were 
held at private houses until a frame church was erected on the southeast 
iiuarter of section 36. township ifi. range 10 west, in [830. A most powerful 
revival was held in 1852, under the pastorate of Rev. Arthur Badley. who 
subsequently remo\ed to Iowa. Other pastors were Re\s. J. W. Parrett. 
Shaw , Thomas Bartlett, Salisbury, Clark Skinner, McDaniel, Wood, Barnard, 
Nebeker, Clark Skinner, Morrison and K. R. Johnson. Later the class did not 
prosper and finally went down. 

The Center Alethodist Episcopal church was organized about 1837 at the 
home of James Wishard, where services were had many years. In 1853 a 
commodious frame .structure was erected, costing about one thousand four 
hundred dollars. In 1887 the society had a membership of ninety-se\en. 

In Helt township Methodism has fiourished from the earliest daw At 
Dana the society was organized in 1879 b\" Rew Daniel Morrison, of the 
Greencastle district. Among the first pastors will be recalled Re\s. Elijah 
Johnson. J. C. ]\IcDaniels, W^oods, William Smith. The .society in 1887 had 
a membership of sixty, an increase of twenty oyer the original number. A 
house of worship was erected in 1882, at a cost of. including the lots, one 
thousand eight hundred dollars. The present magnificent pressed brick struc- 
ture was built in 1906 and is among the finest, if not the \'er\- best, within the 
county. 

Lebanon Methodist Episcopal church, east of Quaker Hill, was organized 
at a very early day. In 1887 it had a membership of thirty-five. .\ frame 
building was provided which was thirty by thirty-six feet in size. 

Vermillion Chapel j\Iethodist Episcopal church, three and a half miles 
southwest of Newport, erected its building about 1847, ^^'ss used until in the 
latter ])art of the eighties, when it was sold and a new one built at a cost of 
one thousand eight hundred dollars. 

At Eugene, Methodism had an early planting, it being on the frontier, 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 3OI 

and it naturall\- enduretl many hardships for long- )ears. The records ha\e 
loiii; since perished, but the true spirit of Methodism still prevails. 

At L'ayuya this denomination Ixiilt their first chnrcli in 1887-88. 

At Newport, the connty .seat of justice, the .Vlethodi.st Episcopal church 
existed in the \erv early days of the town's history, the details of which are 
now hard to bring to tangible light for historic record. In time they built a 
church building, and when it had outlixeil its usefulness it was sold and torn 
away. In 185 1 another edifice was erected, and later an addition of eighteen 
feet was added. In 1887 the society had a membership of one luindred and 
seventy-fi\-e. A fine parsonage was built in 1882. 

.\t Perr)s\'ille the historv of Mctbudism is traced through the pioneer 
period down to the present, it ne\er having died out for lack of interest. In 
1887 ^t was stated that the loss of records made it impossible to give a clear 
conception of all the transactions of the little band that first planted the good 
seeds in that neighborhood. At the last date mentioned the church had a 
membership of one hundred and thirty-three. The class leaders were then 
B. O. Carpenter and J. F. Compton. Several social and au.xiliary societies 
have branched off from the ]iarent church at I'crrysville. In 1843 '"^ brick 
church was built, valued at three thousand dollars, forty-four by fifty-two feet 
in size. It was located in the southwest central i)ortion of the town. 

In \'ermillion county there is onlv one .\frican Methodist Episcopal 
church, that located at Clinton. ha\ing a membership of twent\-tw d. 

METHODIST EPISCOIWL CHURCHES OF I9IJ. 

The subjoined is a li.st of all the churches of this denomination in \'er- 
million county in 191 2. as near as can be determined from the minutes of the 
last conference : 

Clinton. J. C. Martin. |)astor: salary. .$1,000: membership. 2~>< : church 
anfl parsonage valued at $9,000. 

Dana, C. E. Beebe, pastor; salary, $i,ckx): membership. 34^; three 
churches, valued, with parsonages, at $14,400. 

Fairview Park, .\. E. Kester. pastor: .salary, $800: memljership, 386; 
value of church and parsonage property, $13,500. 

Newport. .\. M. Ilagenbook. pastor: salary, $800; membershii). 276: 
value of church propert\', $10,500. 

Perrysville, H. N. Calton, pastor: salary, $800: membership, 282; val- 
uation of church and parsonage, $7,600. 



302 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

There are some country charges suppHed from the ahove central stations 
of the society. But the above are the churclies Hsted in the latest conference 
minutes. 

.AN 0I,D-TIME CIRCUIT RIDER. 

In these da_\'s when, in the Methodist ecnnomy. the title of presiding 
elder has been changed to that of district superintendent, it may be of interest 
to know something of the character of the old-time circuit riders, and for 
this purpose here will be inserted a paragraph from the writings of L. O. 
Bisho]5. in a series entitled "i'"ift\' Years Ago." He savs : "S. P. Cohin was 
the minister here when Fort Sumter was fired upon and let me say right here 
that the old-tin-,e circuit rider certainly earned his salar}-. The Clinton cir- 
cuit then included Clinton, Salem, Centenary, Center and Trinity. There 
was, as a result, something doing for the minister all the time. The\" were 
ministers indeed. Colvin was a broad-minded man, a speaker of high ability, 
intensely devoted to his country, a fine comjianion, both in the home circle as 
well as in public meetings. And as a fisherman and a hunter he had no equals. 
Many a time 1 lia\e seen him ;md some of our familv ( thev were all Metho- 
dists or Presl)yterians ) go ijut on a hunting trip and bring ])ack a ten-foot pole 
full of game, so loaded that it required the two men to carry it on their 
shoulders. And such times as everybody would have. The cooks got busy 
and built a game pot pie, a wonderful creation of the culinar\- art. .Xnd the 
minister and the class leader, and the neighbors far and near would be in- 
vited to come in and enjoy the feast. And they sat down, some in calico and 
some in gingham, few possibly had something finer, Init the quality of the 
clothes made no difference in their happiness. And the jokes flew thick and 
fast and hearty, robust laughter shook their sides, and then thev would lean 
back from the table and roar with laughter over some bright shaft of wit or a 
skyrocket of humor that someone had let loose. And then thev sat up to the 
table and went at it again. I lost my religion at these spreads by always having 
to wait until second or third table and then pick the bones, if the preacher 
and his crowd had left any to pick. But these feasts w-ere very much like the 
miracle of fishes and loaves. If there appeared to be anv scarcity of game 
pie, or fried chicken, roasting ears, dressing, mashed potatoes, pie, cake and 
float, etc.. etc.. and more etc., somehow there was always enough and some to 
spare and e\-erybody was satisfied." 



PARKE AND \ERMlI.LION COUNTIKS, INDIANA. 3O3 

THE CHURCH IN WAR DAYS. 

The old frame .Metlimlist I-Lpiscopal chuieli ut 1861 on South Main street 
was torn clown in about 1S83 anil the site was then occui)ied by a residence be- 
longing to Mrs. Clara Salyards. Mr. Bishop continues : "On this particular 
Sunday that I am speakinj? of there fell upon the people of Clinton such a 
deep, intense feeling of an inii)ending crisis that when Mr. Colvin spoke at 
times the faintest sigli could he heard over tiie room, so profound was tlie 
silence. Manv a boy sat tiiere that Sunday whn was shortly to lie enrolled in 
the greatest army the world has ever seen, and to take part in might}- move- 
ments on the chess board of the nation. 

"I'reitN soon we l)egan to miss the l>oys from their accustomed places, 
h'or it will be reiuenibered that those days there were about seventy-five per 
cent, of the people church members and ninety per cent, attended church — not 
so now-a-days ! There w ere \ acancies behind counters and school desks, on 
farms, in shops, at carpenter benches, and everywhere. It seemed as if every 
home in Clinton had given u]) one or more of its adult memliers. Bravely 
thev marched to the front, behind the Stars and Stripes, a martial band play- 
ing in stout-hearted tones, "Jay Bird," or "The Cirl 1 Left I>ehind Me." 
^^']len they had all gone to the front there fell upon the homes of Clinton 
such a uall of silent anguish, such intense anxiety, that the wonder was that 
the mothers, fathers, sisters and sweethearts at home did not go mad from 
the \'er\- terror of the situation, 

"Indeed, there is but one description in all the literatine that I have 
read that aptly and tersely descril:)es the conditions at home during those four 
long years. That sentence was the prophecy uttered nearly two thousand 
years ago by the Nazarene, who, looking ahead and, seeing with god-like 
clearness of vision all effects following from their causes, exclaimed : 'And 
there shall come such times as never was'." 

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 

Hopewell Friends church was organized at an early day in \'ermillion 
township, this county, .ind was of the same "monthly meeting" as the one at 
Pilot Grove, Illinois. In 1887 it had a membership of two hundred and thirty. 
Ministers James P. Flaworth. William F. Henderson and Ruth R. Ellis all 
ser\'ed acceptably and well. The overseers at Hopewell (Quaker Hill) were 
Jonathan F. and Kate F. Fllis and Albert ami Jane Henderson. Dinah T. 



304 PARKE .\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Henderson was recorder. The church or "meeting liouse" was Ijuilt in 1S73 
at a cost of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. 

The Friends are not numerous enough here now to maintain many regu- 
lar meetings. ^lany of these people have long since remo\ed to other sections 
of the country. Xo better people, howexer. e\'er graced any community than 
these sincere and conscientious men and women styled "Quakers," but who 
prefer their right name. Friends. 

The Friends, however, in Eugene and Helt townships still have a good, 
thrifty settlement and maintain meetings at what is known as Hopewell, near 
Quaker ; at Henderson chapel and Lindsley, Eugene township. 

UNIVERSALISTS. 

A Universalist church was organized at Perrysville in 1842, and after- 
ward erected a house of worship, a frame structure, thirty-six b}' fifty feet in 
size, but being unable to pay for it. they finally, in 1830, sold it to the Presby- 
terians and subsequently disbanded. They numbered as high as fifty-fi\e 
members at one time, .\mong the ministers who served them were Revs. E. 
Alanford, the celebrated editor, a resident of Terre Haute: B. F. Foster, of 
Indianajjolis : Cieorge McClure, of Dayton, Ohio, and a Mr. Babcock. The 
organizing minister was Rev. Marble, of Fountain count}", who preached 
once a month for one jear. The leading meml)ers were Robert j. Gessie 
("trustee and' mortgagee") , Dr. Thornton S. Da\idson, Dr. Porter. Messrs. 
Lawless and Watt. They conducted a flourishing Sunday school. The writer 
knows of no other societies of this denomination within this count}-. In fact 
the belief is not as popular in any part of the country as it was man}" decades 
ago. The Unitarians hax'ing taken many of the n"iembers o\er into their fold. 
E\"ery community, howexer, now" has Universalists in l)elief. but not in suffi- 
cient numliers to organize and carry forward a church work, as do other sects. 

ROM.\N C.\THOLIC CHURCHE.S. 

In the earl}" missionar}" days of Clinton some thirty years agc), there were 
very few Catholic families in Parke or Vermillion counties, and Rev. T. 
O'Donaghue, brother of the present bishop of Louisville, was entrusted with 
the spiritual guidance of a parish which was then almost a wilderness. In 
later years conditions began to improve, but not enough to warrant the es- 
tablishment of a parish. Clinton accordingly remained a mission of Monte- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. IXniANA. 305 

zuma till 1889, when Rev. Joseph T. Baur was commissioned by Rt. Rev. 
Francis Silas, bishcjp of Indianapolis, to organize a parish. 

Coming to Clinton in Xovember of the same year Father liaur tirsl of- 
fered np the holy sacrifice (if the mass in the home of Peter Lamb at 315 North 
.Main street. There the faithful contimied In assemlile for dixine \\or>hi]) till 
the vear 1892. when the old Hoffman residence, now Xo. 31 ',i \\ ater street, 
was purchased and converted into a church. It did not loiii^' meet the reipiire- 
ments of the growing congregation. howe\er. and the present property at 
Sixth and Nebeker streets was secured an<l ."^t. Patrick's church erected in the 
spring of 1894. 

The wonderful resources of the Clinton coal tields and the progressive 
spirit of its business men began about this period to attract considerable at- 
tention throughout the states. .\s a consequence, during the pastorate of 
Rew Walter f. Cronin. 1900- 1906, verv manv people came seeking employ- 
ment in the mines. Those who were successful decided to make their future 
home in the x'illage on the Wabash, .\niong them were foreign representa- 
ti\es of nineteen different nations of the world. 

So vast had the congregation become in 1906 that Rev. William A. 
Maher. who succeeded Father Cronin in June of the same year, was imme- 
diatelv ini|)rcssed with the necessitv of a larger church and a school for the 
dissemination of Catholic learning. Through his al)ilit\ to speak .seven of the 
foreign languages he looked forward to a spirit of greater religious unit)-, and 
so began, in 1908, the erection of our present l>eautiful church, modeled after 
the catheilra! of Tluules in lrelan<l. It is a pictiu'c of beaut\'. in stone and 
brown pressed brick, designed by Gault & (iault, of Terre Haute, and was 
dedicated to Cod's holy service June 13, 1909. 

The cost of the clnn-ch was about seventeen thousand dollars. The Sis- 
ters' school, now under charge of Sisters of St. hrances, from Oldenberg. 
Indiana, has an attendance of about three hundred pu]>ils. while the congre- 
gation of the church numbers four thou.sand souls. The total \alue of this 
cliurch projjerty is estimated at thirty thousand dollars. 

Father James L. P)Olin assumed charge of the ])arisli in i )ecemher. njio. 
and in the ff)llo\\ing year began the erection of the present school building, 
now in charge of the Sisters, six in all. h'ather Bolin was succeeded bv the 
liresent ])astor, j-'ather William !•". Keefe. 

(20) 



3o6 PARKE AND VERMILLION COfNTIES, INDIANA. 

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

This denomination, sometimes known as the Church of Christ, and man.\- 
vears ago as Disciples or Cain])lieliites. at one time had a .strong following in 
\'erniillion county. Init it is not so large today. There are, however, some 
societies of this sect, including those at Cayuga, Dana. St. Bernice, State Line 
society, and Clinton, but none but the Dana church has a regular pastor at 
this time, December, 1912. There are houses of worship in each of the towns 
named. At Dana there are thirty-five members: the pastor is Rev. j. W. 
Parks, who came in 1912, and cares for the State Line church. 

in Clinton there are also a few families of this denomination, but wlm 
are known as the "Antis." as they are radically opposed to the use of church 
organs and inanv of the modern societies that are known in other religious 
societies as auxiliaries, such as Sunday schools, Epworth Leagues and Christ- 
ian Endeavors. They simply take the plain teachings of the Xew Testament, 
without credit or form of any sort, and they, too, style themselves "Christian," 
while many of the other of like general doctrinal belief call themselves the 
"Church of Christ," or "'Christ Church." 

The Clinton Christian church (first church) was organized in i.SSy in 
Crabb's Hall by the Rev. W. W. Jacobs, of Kansas. Illinois, and during liis 
stay with them the society prospered well, but after his departure from their 
leadershi]) thev declined until 1894, when Rew H. ]\L Brooks, of Paris. Illi- 
nois, appeared on the scene and reorganized the church. It was in l-'ebruary 
of that year that their church house was dedicated. It is a good brick struc- 
ture located on the corner of Seventh antl Blackman streets, .\mong the 
nu'nisters who ha\e served here all have done well their part toward l)uilding 
up the church, which now has a membership of about two hundred and fiftw 
who are ilaily trying to magnify the Christ, their Lord. 

UNITED BRETHREN I'NIOX CHURCHES. 

The United Brethren Union church, at Cayuga, was organized March 
18, 1906, by Rev. C. Long, with D. L. Sollers, deacon ; O. S. Harvey, steward ; 
Harry Kiger. clerk. In 19C9 a neat frame church was erected at a cost of 
one thousand dollars. The membership of this church is now eightv-five. 
Rev. John \\ells. of Clinton, is the present pastor in charge. The new church 
building is i)rovided with a good bell and church organ. 

This denomination is also represented in this county at Cromersxille and 
Clinton. 



CHAPTER IX. 

FRATERNAL SOCIETIES IN' \E1< M Il.l.IO.V COUNTV. 
FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS. 

\'crniillion cuunty has the folli)\\ iiis.^" Ma.sunic k)dge.s. all pro.spcring, in 
the autumn of 1912: At Clinton. Jerusalem Lodge No. 99; at Newport, 
Xe\\]jc)rt Lodge Xo. 209: at T*err\s\ill(,', l"nit\- Lodge Xo. ,i44 ; at Cayuga. 
Cayuga Lodge Xo. 584: at Dana. Asbury Lodge X'^o. 320. 

At Clinton, I'reeniasonrv was first instituted ])rior to iS4,v '"'1 interest 
in its wnrkings declined and the charter was final!\- surrendered. Jerusalem 
Lodge No. 99 was chartered Ala\' J(). 1830. and has e\er since been kept 
a!i\'e. The charter members of this, the first lodge in the county, were: 
Syhester Redfield, \\orslii])fid master, who later removed to Xebr.aska : |ohn 
X. Perkins. Hiram I'larnes. John R. \Miitcomb. Henjamin R. Wliitcomb. 
William S. Price. James Gazsoway. James McCulloch. Xathan Sidwell. J. J. 
.Moore and William Barrick. The memljership of this lodge in 191 2 was one 
hundred and twent\-two. and its elective officers w ere then : J. X. Frist, wor- 
slii])ful master: .Mahalon Stark, senior warden: ( ieorge l)Oatman. iunior war- 
den: l\an W. Scott, secretary: Arthur V<. Rol)crts. treasurer: llenr\' Adam- 
son. senior deacon. 

The Masonic hall ot I'linton was erected in ii^oj and is valued at about 
ten thousand dollars. 

At Dana, Asbury Lodge No. 320 was chartered ]\Iay 24. 1865, by the 
following charter members: Morris Hager. John .\ve, Thomas S. Hood. 
James Osborn, Selah Teinple, Thomas .\. Edmundston. John Bilsland. Henrv 
Jordan. William 1". Hales. William F. Ford. The lodge was first organized at 
Bono, now called Toronto. Its present membership is se\ent\-eight. The 
lodge was built as the second floor of a building in Dana, the rooms l>eing 
especially prepared for lodge room uses, and the property is valued at one 
thousand two hundred dollars. The officers in the fall of 1912 were as fol- 
lows: James R. Douglas, worshipful ma.ster : Davis S. Williams, .senior 
warden: S. E. Scott, junior w.irden: H. L. Fillihger. treasurer: C". R. Jackson, 
secretary; F. B. Lowrey. senior deacon: Licob S. Randall, junior deacon; 
E. B. Thompson, tyler. 



308 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Xewport Lodge No. 209 was instituted May 26. 1857. and its first officers 
were: Tliomas C. W. Sales, worshipful master; Abel Sexton, senior warden: 
llenrv V. Jackson, junior warden. The lodge now has a membership of forty, 
and its last nfficers are: Charles X. l''ultz, worshi])ful master: John A. 
Hughes, senior warden: M. B. Carter, junior w-arden; H. \'. Nixon, senior 
deacon: Joseph AlcCnrmick, junior deacon: Jesse Fultz, secretary; \'. R. 
Nixon, treasurer. The lodge built its present hall about 1900 at a cost of one 
thousand two hundred dollars and later bought the second story of the build- 
ing adjoining, so that it now' owns the whole second floor of the two-story 
brick building situated just west of the court house on the west side of the 
square, being about fort)'-four b\- fifty feet and di\ided into a large room, and 
two rooms on the south which are used for a dining room and kitchen. 

There is also Eastern Star Chai)ter' No. 236 in connection. The present 
worthy matron is Fannie Carter; worthy patron, Charles X. Fultz; associate 
matron, Edna Hollingsworth ; conductress, Goldie Fultz ; associate conduct- 
ress, Xellie Wait. 

At Eugene, this county, a Masonic lodge was instituted in 1847. ^^'''^^' 
about forty-se\en members, .\mong the first officers were : C. M. Comages, 
worshipful master; Har\e\' Skelton. senior warden; Dr. R. .M. Waterman, 
junior warden ; George Sears, secretary ; Anthony Fable, treasurer. After 
about ten years this lodge went down on account of remoxals to side towns 
and newl\- organized 'odges. such ;is were formed at Xewport, Lodi and 
Perrys\'ille. llarxey Skelton \\as the last master of die Eugene lodge as above 
instituted. 

With the springing into existence of Cayuga, the lodge was moved from 
Eugene there and now is in a ])rosperous condition, but no facts were fur- 
nished the compiler. 

At Perrysville, Unity Lodge No. 114 was organized about 1850, at least 
that early, and increased to thirt\--four members. The lodge flourished until 
May, 1859, when its charter was surrendered. .Xothing further was accom- 
plished in Ma.sonic circles until May 29. 1867. after the close of the Civil war 
period, when Unity Lodge Xo. 344 was instituted with the fodowing charter 
officers : W. B. Moffatt. worshipful master ; James Hemphill, senior warden ; 
Jacob S. Stephens, junior warden : William Jarnuild, secretarv : Robert E. 
Townsley, treasurer; H. M. Townsley. senior deacon; Jolm Wolf, junior 
deacon: Thomas Scott, tyler. The present officers are .Mexander Grubbs. 
worshipful master; Roy G. Jester, senior warden: .\rthur I'lunt. iunior war- 
den: Robert O. Jones, treasurer; J. F. Conipton. secretar\-. Thev own their 
own lod"e room. 



PARKE AND N^ERMILLION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 3O9 

Of Chapter No. u^. Royal Arch .Masons, at Llinton. it may he stated 
that its charter was revoked by the grand chapter in November, nju, and now 
there are no cliapters of Royal .\rcli Masons w itliin N'ennillion county. 

The onl\- cmnnianderN- nf Knis.;]its Teniii'ar in this count\- is at Clinton. 

INDEPENDENT ()UIi1':k OI-" ODD KEF. LOWS. 

The earliest lodge of ()dd bellows organized in \ ermillion county was 
Cliarity Lodge Xo. ^j. chartered at Terrysv-ille .\pril 20, 1846. The first 
officers were: iracl Abdill. noble grand: Charles Bovles, vice grand: T. S. 
Dax'idson, secretar\- : Thomas Cushman, treasurer: John Dunlap. warden: 
C. .\. Gray, conductor: John A. Mincbell, recording secretary, in 1887 tiiis 
lodge bad a membership of nineteen: they owned their own building and had 
projjcrty x'alucd at one thousand three lunidred and fortv-eight dollars. Dur- 
ing Ci\'il war days tliis lodge was kej)! ali\e 1)\- six fiiithful members. Present 
membership is fort}-se\-en. 

Highland Encampment .\o. lO^ was instituted l)ecenil)cr 7, 1885. 

Rebekah Lodge Xo. J18 was instituted julv 24. 1882. 

Aniant Lodge X'o. 356 was instituted Xovember 16. 1870, with about a 
dozen members, which had increased to seventy-fi\e b}- 1887. The present 
membership is one hundred and se\enty-three. 

Cnity Lodge Xo. ^2/. a newer lodge, has a membership of one hundred 
and fi\e. 

Clinton luicampnient Xo. 143 was chartered .Mav i(). 1876. 

Vermillion Lodge No. 182. Rebekah degree, was organized July cj. 1877. 

Setting Sun Lodge X'o. 583 was organized April 2j. 1881, at Cayuga, 
with seventeen members, and the following officers: William H. Hood, noble 
grand: 1^. B. Johnson, vice grand: H. (). Peters, treasurer: 1). \\". P.ell, secre- 
tar\ , The ])rcseul membership is si\t\-tw(). 

Dana Lodge No. 581 was organized February to. 1881, with eighteen 
members, and Hiram Shepard, noble grand: Julius C. Crnves. vice grand; 
and Fred Rush, secretary. The memlx'rship of this lodge in \i)i2 was report- 
ed as one hundred and fifty- four. 

\'crmillion I^odge No. 394. at Xewjjort. was instituted in the room over 
the furniture store of David Hopkins by Past C.rand Hiram Shejiai'd, under 
a charter granted May 18, 1882, on the petition of Robert F. Stei)hens. Lewis 
Shepard, Thomas Cushman, F. V. Wade. Julius droves and ]. M. Tavlor. 
The first officers were: Lewis Shepard. noble grand: Robert P.. Stei)hens, 



3JO PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

\ice t,naiul : Thomas Cushman, secretary; J. M. Taylor, treasurer. The lodge 
now has a membership of seventy-eight. 

Hope Lodge No. 268, Davighters of Rebekah, was chartered November 
18, 1886. 

Vermillion Lodge No. 594, at Newiwrt. was instituted July 6, 1882. Its 
first officers were : Robert E. Stephens, noble grand ; Thomas Cushman, sec- 
retary ; James Chipps, treasurer. 

The 1912 officers are: George Morehead, noble grand; Guy F. Newlin, 
vice grand ; lies Morehead, recording secretary ; Edmund B. Brown, financial 
secretary; James Chipps, treasurer; Bird H. Davis, Ithimer M. Casebeer and 
Fred D. Wimsett, trustees. The present membership of this lodge is sixty- 
eight. Their hall was built in 1892, at a cost of one thousand six hundred 
dollars; parai)hernalia and furniture, four hundred dollars. 

This lodge is always represented at the grand lodge, and B. H. Da\-is of 
the Hoosier State, published at Newport, was appointed proof-reader of the 
grand lodge in 1912, and had served on the Daughters of Rebekah committee 
at a former session. 

PRESENT LODGES OF VERMILLION COUNTY. 

The follow ing shows an account of the (Jdtl bellows lodges in X'ermillion 
county according to the 1912 grand lodge reports; also the membership of 
each subordinate, as well as Rebekah degree, lodge : 

Charity Lodge No. ^2 has forty-se\en members. 

Amant Lodge No. 356 has one hundred and seventy-three members. 

Dana Lodge No. 581 has a membership of one hundred and fifty-four. 

Setting Sun Lodge No. 583 has sixty-two members. 

\'ermillion Lodge No. 594 has seyenty-eight members. 

St. Bernice Lodge No. 666 has one one hundred and thirty-eight mem- 
bers. 

B. F. Foster Lodge No. 730 has a membership of seventy-eight. 

L'nity Lodge No. 827 has a membership of one hundred and five. 

This gives a grand total of eight hundred and thirty-fi\e Odd l-"ellows in 
Vermillion county. 

REBEKAH DEGREE LODGES. 

Clinton. \'ermillion Lodge No. 182 has one hundred and tiftv-nine mem- 
bers. 

Perryville Lodge No. 218 has a membership of twentv-six. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 3II 

Newport. Hope Lodge No. 268 has thirty-two members. 
St. Bernice, Columbia Lodge No. 425 ha.s ninety- four members. 
Hillsdale Lodge No. 573 has ninety-nine members. 
Cayuga, Venus Lodge No. 515 has nine members. 
Dana. Ruth Lodge No. 634 has sixty-five members. 

This gives a grand total of mcmbersiiip in the Reliekah degree of four 
hundred and eighty-four. 

KNIGHTS OF PVTHIAS. 

Nermillion Lodge No. 113, of th.e order of Knights of I'ytiiias. was 
organized l)eceml>er 31, 1S84, witli sixteen charter members and tlie first 
officers were: Dr. James T. Henderson, chancellor commander; V. S. Smith. 
vice commander; L. .\. Morgan, master of finance: M. J. Rudy, master of 
exchequer; D. H. Cade, keeper of records and seal: W. A. Collins, prelate; G. 
R. Hicks, master at anns ; A. R. Marlat, iimer guard ; E. A. Lacy, outer guard. 

At Dana the Knights of Pythias ha\e a hall in conjunction with the Odd 
Fellows order. The lodge number is 247. 

At Clinton no data was furnished, but it is known that this order has 
Hazel Lodge No. 217, with C. C. Foley as keeper of records and seal, and 
A'ictor Lodge No. 553. 

There are now Knights of Pythias lodges at Clinton, Cayuga, Dana and 
Newport, all in a flourishing condition. .\t Clinton there is a Uniform Rahk 
degree of this order; also the Pythian Sisters. 

Riverside Lodge No. 242, at Newport, was instituted June 4, iSqo. The 
first officers were : Rev. F. W. Gee. past commander : R. E. Stephens, clian- 
cellor commander; R. B. Sears, \ice commander; ?>. S. Aikman, master of 
exchecpier; J. D. Collett, master of finance: R. B. \'an Allen, prelate; W. I. 
Place, outer guard; J. L. Nelson, inner guard; T. J. Nichols, master at arms; 
E. E. Henson. keeper of records and seal. 

The lodge now has a membership of one hundred and eighteen. Its 
elective officers are: George W. Short, chancellor commander; M. H. Aik- 
man, vice chancellor; W. AI. Place, tnaster of exchequer: \V. S. Brown, tnas- 
ter of finance; J. B. Butler, prelate; Charles \". Hughes, outer guard: .\. 
Julian, inner guard; Ties Moreheafl. keeper of records and seal. 

This lodge owns its own hall and its cost was about one tlmnsand two 
hundred dollars, erected in i8c;2. 



CHAPTER X, 



VERMILLION COUNTY ATTORNEYS. 



\Miile it is impossible to record the names of every man connected with 
llie bar of X'ermillion county, the following list will serve a good purpose in 
calling to mind many, both dead and living, who have practiced in the county. 

In Clinton township the list includes James R. Baker, who, although he 
(lid not practice law long, should not be omitted. He left the profession to 
become a Methodist Episcopal minister. 

Lyman J. Smith practiced here four years and remoxtd to Paris. Illinois. 

"ludge" John Porter, who lived in the country in this township, fol- 
lowed the law to some extent, was a man of good literary attainments, a mem- 
ber of the Legislature, etc. He died some time prior to the Civil war period. 

For about nne year prior to the war a man named Ragan practiced law 
at Clinton. 

Henr\- D. \\ ashlnirn, a native of \ ermout. a member of the noted 
W^'ashburn famil\- of the old Green Mountain state, was born in March. 1832. 
coming to this county about 1830: taught school three or four years, chiefly 
in l^lelt township, and some at Newport: studied law, while teaching, with 
Thomas C. \\'. Sale at Newport: admitted to the bar in 1833, and o]jened an 
office at Newport: was in partnership with M. P. Lowry for a time: elected 
auditor of Vermillion county in 1834, serving one term: entered the army as 
ca])tain of Com])any C, Eighteenth Indiana Infantry, promoted to lieutenant- 
colonel, then colonel, and l)reveted brigadier-general and then major-general, 
serving in all about four years, first in Missouri, next in the Army of the 
Potomac, then in Georgia: but in 1864, before the termination of the Civil 
war, was elected, while a resident of Clinton, to the lower house of Congress, 
against Daniel \\'. \^oorhees, serving from March, 1863, to March, 1869. In 
the last year be was appointed bv President Grant to the ofifice of survevor- 
general for the territory of Montana and while holding the office died in Jan- 
uary. 1 87 1, at Clinton, leaving a wife and two children. ComTnanding a com- 
pany of fifty men, he made the first explorations of the now famous Yellow- 
stone Park, in 1870. in which journey the exposure brought on iHness that 
proved fatal to him. He was a Methodist, a Republican and a member of the 
Knights Templar degree of Masonry. 



PARKE AND VKRMILLION COrXTlKS, INDIANA. 313 

Henry A. Wliitc, a native of Helt township, tins coimty, practiced 
law at t'linton a nnnihcr of _\ears. tlien niox'ed to Kansas. 

M. I!. Davis, anotlicr X'ermillion connty prodnct, and a gradnate of old 
Aslnirv I'niversity, ("ireencastle, was admitted to the liar while a very young 
man, and was in ])arlnei-ship for a short time with II. II. (,'onley, of Xewport. 
In 1885 he left for l'>eatriee, Nebraska, and there practiced law and was con- 
nected with the ncatrifc h'rf'iiblican. a local newspaper. 

In 1888 the lawyers at Clinton were Daniel C. Johnsim, I'latl '/.. .\nder- 
son, Henianiin l\. W liitcdinli, I. H. Strain and Mehin 1!. Davis. 

At Newport, the seat of justice, the members of the legal profession have 
included these : Daniel M, Jones, a native of Vermillion count}-, attended 
Wabash College, not quite completing his course : he w as admitted to the bar 
in 1852 to 1853; was a member of the Legislature in 1861, as a Republican; 
was an :icti\ e partisan, a natural orator, and a shrewd lawyer, and died in the 
autumn of 1865, leaving a widow and three children. Mis wife was a sister 
of Stephen S. Collett. The son studied for a physician. 

I.. C. Allen, l)(irn near Highland, this countw studied law under M. G. 
Rhoades, of Newport, and was there admitted to the l>ar. He was justice of 
the ])eace in 1868-72, when he also had some trial cases on hand. He was a 
man of firm principles and sometimes a little sexere and rough. Later, he 
remo\ed to h'ountain coiuitv .and serxed as a deputx clerk at Covington. 

Nathan llar\e\ was a nati\e and li\ed man\' years in I'arke count}', this 
state, being educated at Bloomingdale school, the Quaker institution, under the 
instruction of Barnabas Hobbs. formerl\- state su|)erintendent of ])nblic in- 
struction lie had a fair mind and good scholarshi]). ( )n coming to .\ew - 
])ort he taught school in the seminar}- building durii-ig the da}-s of the Cix'il 
war, for a couple of years, then married the daughter of John C. Johnson. 
1 le became a law i)artner of U'illiam Lggleston, but was onl}- permitted to 
])ractice about three vears. when he died, during a session ot covu"l. lie was 
an honoral)le man and had he not died so car!} would doubtless have been 
one of the county's best legal minds. 

Robert ."\. Parrett, a native of Indiana, settleil w ith his jiaieuts at New- 
port when a young man. His father was a traveling Methodist minister and 
the son Rol)ert was reared largely in Newport. He conimenced a course at 
.\slnu}- ( now De Pauw I'niversity ) and while yet in the freshman vear, on 
account of ill health, he had to desist. He then read law in the office of Judge 
Jump, was admitted to bar and practiced his i)rofession for a time. In the 
autumn of 1873 he was admitted as a pactncr of P,. p., and M. C. Rhoades. in 



314 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

which relation he remained until January, 1880. He then engaged in farming 
near Newport. He was a good lawyer, a good bookkeeper and attentive to 
business, but, owing to ill health, was induced to abandon the profession for 
that more healthful and independent occupation uf a farmer. 

Prof. B. F. Rhoades, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1834, came with 
his jjarents' family 'to Richmond, Indiana, in 1836, in a one-horse wagon. In 
1837 they came to Parke county; then moved to Waveland, Montgomery 
county, where he attended the Waveland Academx'. and entered Wabash Col- 
lege in the junior year, graduating there in 1859. He then came to Clinton, 
Vermillion county, and taught in the Farmer's College a ])art of one year. 
He studied law in the office of Judge Maxwell, at Rock\ille, Parke county, 
was admitted to the bar, came to Newport in 1861, and commenced the prac- 
tice of law. He was in partnership with his brother, M. d. Rhoades, 1865-79. 
In 1865-66 he was a member of the Legislature. In 1878 he removed to 
Terre Haute. He went to Europe with his family and there spent thirteen 
months in tra\el. Early in the spring of 1881 he was appointed judge of the 
superior court of \'igo county, serving one }ear. For fi\e years he was one 
of the trustees of the State University at Bloomington, where he was also a 
professor of law for a time. 

John D. Cushman was born and reared in Perrysville, this count)'. His 
father was Thomas Cushman, who was elected county auditor in the fall of 
1872, and moved with his family to Newport, where the son John studied 
law, was admitted to the bar, and began practice with Joshua Jump for a 
time: was in the office of Messrs. Rhoades, where he pro\e(l himself a good 
office man. a fine penman and an intelligent business factor of the countv seat 
town. He was a good public speaker, but never jiracticed at the bar to any 
considerable extent. In the autumn of 1875 he went to the Southern states, 
where he tra\eled for six months. Returning, he resumed law practice, 
sometimes alone, at other times with others, until his death, about 1882. He 
was a young man of more than ordinary promise when death claimed him. 

Thomas C. W. Sale was for many years a lawyer of Newport, and 
before the Civil war went to Paris, Illinois, where he recei\ed an appointment 
as Indian agent, and he was in the far West for a long period in the fulfill- 
ment of the duties of that office. Later he returned and resided at Paris, 
Illinois. 

Samuel G. Malone. who practiced before the A'ermillion count\- bar 
prior to the Civil war, removed to Decatur, Illinois, where he accunniiated 
from seventy-five to one hundred thousand dollars, but lost it all later. He 
then retired to his farm in Helt township, this countv. 



PARKE AND VERMII.LIOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 3I5 

William Eggleston, a native of \'erinillion county, Indiana, was educated 
here, attended the coniuion .schools and the county seminary at Newport, 
after he was grown to man's estate. He was industrious and ])ersevering. 
He took kindly to law. ;uul in due time was admitted to the bar. about 1^59. 
He worked up consideral)le practice, by liard struggle, making many ernirs, 
but after fifteen gears' practice accumulated a handsome propert\. He then 
engaged in the mercantile business with his brother, but they both failed in 
business. During bis experience as a merchant, however, William proceeded 
with the law profession and was again a successful attorney. Wliile here he 
wrote and published three works: "A Treatise on County Commissioners," 
■"A Legal Work on Damages." and a play entitled "The Broken-hearted 
Wife," being a story of woman's lo\e and man's unfaithfulness, and consist- 
ing of facts that occurred a few years before, in this section of the state, imder 
his own obser\ation. He removed to Terre Haute in 1877. 

V. E. Witmer, about eighty-five years ago, came from Ohio to Newport, 
this countx'. where he practiced law about six \ears. then moved to a point 
near Logansport, where he died in the eighties. He was a man possessed of 
the "s])read-eagle " stvle. not deeplv \ersed. but executi\c. wnrking u)) law 
suits whether tbev slinuld ha\c beeti worked u]) or iini. 

William I.. Little, a graduate of old .\sbur\ Lnixcrsiu mow Del'auw ). 
became a Methodist minister. ])rcaching here a year or more. He then 
switched to fanning seven miles southwest of Newport, and in that he suc- 
ceeded well ; next he practiced law at Newport, settled a few estates, and 
then became a merchant, finally moving to Hutchinson, Kansas, about 1882. 
He had a fair intellect, a good degree of information on general subjects, and 
was a prominent citizen of \"ermillion county. From 1862-72 he acted as 
county examiner, and for about eight years served as county school superin- 
tendent. 

James Blanchard. another native of this county, received a good classical 
education and was an expert penman, on which account he was emploved 
much in the .stores and county offices as an accountant and coi^vist. Licking 
u|) a little law knowleflge. he was admitted to the bar and bad several law- 
partners. He was a good assistant in jjreparing legal pajiers. conducting cor- 
respondence, making collections, etc. .\bout 1884 he moved to Terre Haute, 
and from there went to South Hutchinson, Kansas, w here he is engaged in the 
real estate business and was generally successful. 

Ren nianchard. though nominally an attorney, never actually conducted a 
suit. He moved to Terre Haute and engaged in real estate business. 



3l6 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Hon. Jusepli B. Cheadle. congressman from the ninth district in Indiana, 
was born in V'erniilHon county, Indiana, read law with judge Maxwell, of 
Rockville, admitted to the liar here about i8(')8, became deputy collector of 
internal rexenue, was a candidate for nomination for a number of offices, 
gradualix- drifting out of law into editorial wurk. had charge of the Iloosicr 
State, at Newport, nine months, in 1870, then the Rockville Republican and 
Rockville Trihtnic. later beciiming editor of the I-ninkfort Banner, Clinton 
count}-. 

Joshua Jump, born in Ohio in 1S43, studied law with R. N. Bishop, at 
Paris, Illinois, was admitted to the bar, and came to Newport in 1869, where 
his partnerships were in succession with William Eggleston, Koljert H. Sears, 
James Blanchard, John D. Cushman, and from March, 1879, to March, 1885, 
C. W. Ward. I'"rom 1885 to 1886 he was circuit judge. In June. 1887, he 
removed to Terre Haute. Politically, he was a Democrat, and was an im- 
portant figure in his part\- in state and county political work. 

Adam Littlepage, from West A'irginia. was admitted to the bar in New- 
port, l*"ebruar\- 6. 1883. formed a partnership with John A. W'iltermood. 
which e-xisted about three years. He married the daughter of S. S. Collett, 
and then returned to West Virginia. 

John A. W'iltermood, who was in 188S. jjostmaster at Newport, was ap- 
pointed to the position in September. 1885. He was born in Vermillion town- 
shi]) this count}', a son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. W'iltermood, and was 
reared on his ])arents' farm, most of his earlv xuuth i)eing spent in luigene 
township. He attended the State Normal at Indianapolis in ]878-7c;, taught 
school three }ears. studied law in the office of Judge Jump, admitted to ])rac- 
tice February 6, 1883, associated ])rofessionall} with H. H. Conle\- two xears, 
and w ith .Adam Littlepage about three years. 

The Newport bar, in 1888, consisted of these gentlemen: M. G. 
Rhoads. P,. S. Aikinan, C. W. \Vard, O. P.. Gibson, H. H. Conley and J. C. 
Sawver. 

Tn the winter of 1874-75 Messrs. Jump and M. G. Rhoads were attorneys 
for a fugitive from Illinois, charged with .stealing horses, and succeeded in 
releasinsf him from the custody of the officers. This raised much excitement 
amonc; the citizens of Newport, and indignation meetings were held, as well as 
in other sections of Vermillion count\". The officer holding the fugitive had 
not the proper authorit}- in the case. 



PARKE AND VERMILUON COUNTIES. INDIANA. 31/ 

XKUMlJ.l.lON COUNTY BAR OF lyiJ. 

llcury Adamson, Lliiilou; Joseph \\ . Amis, L lintuii ; Uanit-l L. John.sun, 
Clinton; Hezzie B. Pike, CliiUun; Juiiii A. \\ iltennoud, Clintuii ; E. V. Zell, 
Clinton; G. Edniond Bingham, Clinton; R. E. Gninn. Clinton; i-'rank R. 
xMiller, Clinton; I'Yank Smith, Dana; tjeorge D. Sunkel, Dana; Ed. H. James, 
Dana; Aliller W . Coffin, Caynga; Charles Hostord, Cayuga; Oscar D. Zell, 
Cayuga; Homer B. Aikman, Newport; Hugh .\. Conley, Newport; \\ . Hurt 
Conley. Newport; Charles Al. l-'ultz, Newport: Ed. E. Neel, Newport; .Martin 
G. Rhoades, Newport: William C. Wait, Newport; Homer (jalloway, New- 
port; Forest Ingram. Newport; Harrison T. Pa\ne. Newport; John B. Butler, 
Newport. 



CHAPTER XI. 



VERMILLION COUNTY PHYSICIANS. 



In the settlement of every new country the medical profession is usuall\- 
among the first to establish itself. The first settler, the family doctor and the 
traveling minister, is about the order in which the first steps toward dexelop- 
ment are taken. As much as may be said against the doctor when one is in 
possession of good health and has no need for the medicine chest and the faith- 
ful adviser, the time soon comes to one and all when the sight of the physician 
is welcome. During the w eary hours of the night, passed in the lonely pioneer 
cabin, the sick person with a fevered brow and hectic flush watched patiently 
for the coming of the doctor, with his saddle-bags, which cmitained many 
distasteful drugs of the old-school compounds. }'et were looked upon with 
great favor in da)-s and nights of sickness and swallowed in the hope that 
strength and vitality might again bless them. These pioneer doctors made 
their tri])s over hill and glade, through all kinds of weather, facing the storms 
of winter and the burning sun of mid-summer, in order to reach the bedside 
of the sick in time to be of service to them in the hour of their distress. Many 
of the bills for such service were never paid, hut the faithful doctor never 
stopped to consider the payment of the bill, going on his ])rofessii)nal call to 
cure, and not solelv to add to his own treasury. Scores of these old-time 
physicians were excellent doctors, understood human nature and knew much 
more than they have been credited with in these later years. True, the science 
of nidicine had not ]irogressed to the high degree that now oljtains, yet the suc- 
cess attained in caring for the ills of fifty and se\enty-fi\e years ago compares 
favorably with that of today, except in contagious and epidemic diseases, in 
which the more recent physicians are undoubtedly superior to their forefathers. 

The first plnsician to locate in Clinton was Dr. Joseph Hopkins, who 
came from Ohio in 1830. or possil:)ly a little before that year. He was an ac- 
ceptable ph}sician, practiced a number of years and died out West, leaving a 
wife and two daughters. Peace to his ashes! 

Dr. Eastman practiced here about the same time above named, but little 
can now be learned of him. 

Dr. 1. S. Palmer, a graduate of one of the Philadelphia medical colleges. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 3I9 

settled in Clinton during the pioneer period, accumulated some property, but 
finally became very intem)jerate and lost what lie had honestly made. He 
finally lusl his own life in a most horrible manner, althout^h not intoxicated 
at the time. Visiting a patient across the river Wabash, one day about 1863, 
he noticed on his return many squirrels in the woods. (_)n arriving home he 
took his gun and started out to indulge in the sport of a chase. While crossing 
the river on the ice he broke through, but held himself from being drawn 
under by clinging to the edge of the ice, and there he held fast until parties 
had arrived from points a mile or more distant for his rescue. But his 
strength gave out and he went under, never more to be seen. His body was 
never recovered. Charles Knowles nearly lost his life in trying to save the 
unfortunate doctor. 

Ohio sent another doctor to these parts in the person of Dr. William Kile, 
a man of great energy and industry. After practicing several years and 
making a small fortune, he sold out and moved to Paris. Illinois, where he 
embarked in the mercantile business, and also had a good farm which he 
cultivated, handling stock in an extensive manner. Subse(|uently, the Doctor 
drifted into l)anking. It is related of him that when \isiting patients on the 
east side of the Wabash that he fre(|uently would swim his horse, on his 
return, rather than to come a few miles mit of his way to the wagon bridge. 
One time he was \-iolenth- attacked with small-])ox. when scarcelv anyone 
thought he could survive, but his "vitativeness" was so large that, as he was 
taken out into the country for treatment, passing a store, he called out to the 
proprietor. ''Save me the large pair of boots, will you?"' lie had ^erv large 
feet. He died at Paris many years afterward. 

Dr. Perkins, a botanic physician, practiced here a number of years and 
finally moved to Oregon. 

Dr. Rollin Whitcomb, another botanic ])hysician from New York, located 
here in 1841. After practicing here for a number of years, he moved to other 
parts, but again resumed practice here and remained until his death. 

Dr. I. B. Hedges accompanied his parents from Xew ^'ork w hen he w as a 
mere boy. in 1824. He commenced the practice of medicine in 1N4:;. and 
proved to be a successful doctor. He was a man of learning and stood high 
in the community. He left his family considerable i^roperty, as a result of his 
extended medical practice. 

Dr. P. R. Owen came to Qinton about 1854 from New Go.shen, Indiana, 
but was a native of Ohio, ^^■hen the Civil war broke out he enlisted and was 
elected captain of Company T, Fourteenth Indiana Infantry, promoted major 
and then lieutenant-colonel of his regiment; came home and ]iracticed his 



320 PARKE AXD VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

profession until 1871, wiien lie died, leaving a widow and several children. 
He was an excellent Methodist minister at one time. The Grand Army post 
at Clinton was named in honor of him. 

.\nother ph\-sician here was Dr. Corkins. who after a few \ears' prac- 
tice, removed to Texas. 

Dr. William Reeder practiced medicine at Clinton for a nuiiiljer of years 
before the breaking out of the Civil war, in which he enlisted and held some 
ofifice in his regiment. About 1874 he moved to Texas, where at last accounts 
he was a successful practitioner in tlie Lone Star state. 

Dr. J, C. Crozier was another "before the war" physician in Clinton. He 
entered the Union ami)- as a surgeon, continued until the end of the war, 
then practiced here a number of years, finally going t(j Washington. D. C, 
where he was for many years connected with the pension department. 

Dr. William H. Stewart came in from Illinois, practiced three \ears 
and located in Terre Haute. In 1888 the physicians in Clinton were Drs. 
Henry Nel:>eker. J. H. Bogart and C. M. White. 

In Helt township the physicians of long ago included these: Dr. Hiram 
Shepard, born in Xewport. this count}', graduated at the Miami Medical 
College of Cincinnati, Ohio, and practiced at Dana from 1874 on. 

Dr. Granville O. Newton was born in Helt township, graduated at the 
named medical school, and after practicing in this countv in the countrv for a 
time removeil to Dana in September, 1885. 

Dr. Thomas C. Hood, also a native of Helt township, graduated at 
Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia in 1884. located in Terre Haute 
for a short time, moving to Dana in 1885. 

Dr. John C. Harrison was lx)rn in Craw fords\ille, Indiana, was a soldier 
in the Civil war, graduated in medicine at the Eclectic Medical College of 
Cincinnati, began to practice in partnership with his brother in 1868, locating 
at Dana in 1886. 

Dr. A. H. DePuy practiced in Helt township from 1856 to 1871. moved 
to Chicago. He was a regular graduate and an excellent man. 

Dr. Frank Foncannon, a native of Helt township, jjracticed in this town- 
ship a short time, then went to Emporia, Kansas. 

From out the numerous physicians who have from time to time prac- 
ticed medicine in \'ermillion township only these can now be recalled of the 
earlier ones : 

Dr. J. R. Willetts practiced here previous to the Ci\il war. and moved 
from the county. For a time he was in partnership with Dr. ( iriffin, long since 
deceased. Dr. E. T. Collett. son of Josephus Collett. Sr.. was a graduate of 



HARKF. AND VF.RMTI.I.IOX COl!NTlKS, INDIANA. 32.1 

the l.()uis\iilc Medical College, practiced here and in Eugene township, and 
in 1878 committed suicide in Kansas, at the age of fifty-eight years. Drs. 
Clark and 1'. H. Leavitt practiced here for a numljer of years, part of the 
time as partners. The former nio\ed to Danville, Illinois, and the other died 
at Newport. Dr. E. Thomp.son moved to Illinois and ched there. He left 
Newport in the autumn of 1874. Other doctors of the township were Hrs. 
M. L. Hall, Levkis Shepard and James Wallace. 

.\niong the earlv physicians at luigene may he recalled the name of iJr. 
R. M. Waterman, who came in before 1837, and practiced until his death, 
about 1868, except a short time at Lodi, whence he entered the army. He 
was of the "retjular" school of i)ractice and came from Rhode Island. He 
estahlislu'd the first newspaper piil)lishe(l in N'ermillion county. 

I )r. James .\lc.\leen practiced here many _\ears, and in 1886 mo\'ed to 
Danville. Illinois, .\nother physician here was Dr. William C. Eichelberger. 

.\t Perrysville the list of men who ha\e practiced medicine is quite 
length}', and includes the following: 

Dr. Dinwiddie, said to have been a surgeon of the regular army, was the 
fust physician to locate at Perrysville. He left the place sometime in the 
forties. 

Dr. Thornton S. Daxidson came about i cS3y and died here about 1832. 

The ne.xt physician was probably Dr. Reynolds, about 1850. 

Dr. R. M. Waterman, after practicing here a while, moved to Eugene, 
w here he started the .\'c7cs-Lcttrr, and then to Lodi, Eountain coimty, where 
a postottice was named for him. "Waterman." lie ser\ed in the armv, as 
cajJtain of Comi)any .\ in an lndian;i regiment, but ct)ntracte<l a disease from 
which he soon afterw ard died. 

Dr. .\. P>. Small, not a regular graduate in medicine, was in iiartnership 
with Dr. Waterman antl others, liecame feeble b_\' reason of age and tinall\- died 
in .Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Dr. John Stewart FJaxter. from X'irginia. was a good surgeon, m i)art- 
nership with Df. Spotswood for a time, and died in Perrysville in 1853. 

Dr. Dexter 1". Leland. from some one of the Eastern states, arrived here 
about 1850, was a partner of Dr. Spotswood. a physician of gentlemanl\ 
manners, and died in three or four years after settling here. 

Dr. Lewis Clark came in 1834. was an energetic man, practiced here 
three years and moved to Kansas, where he died. 

Dr. Lewis Frazee, eclectic, was born in New Jer.sey in 1813, came to 
Perrysville in 1863, and died in Deceml^er, 1881. His first wife and their 
(21) 



322 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

nine children all died before him. The son George began practice in Perrys- 
ville in 1870. dj'ing in 1878. 

Dr. J. M. Wilkerson arri\ed in Perrys\ille in 183J, and practiced a t'ew 
years only, then removed to other parts. 

Other doctors were: L. W. Meering; John Kemp, botanic; D. M. Bal- 
lard, from 1857' until his death: Joseph H. Olds, who came before the Civil 
war, entered the Union army, whence he did not return to this county. He 
was considered a physician of more than ordinary abilit\- and skill. 

Dr. Crooks, a young man in partnership with Dr. Clark for a period, 
mc)\'cd to Lebanon, where he died. 

Dr. B. I. Pollard, eclectic, from State Line (village), practiced in Perrys- 
ville in the early eighties and mo\ed to Dixon, Illinois. 

In 1888 the list of physicians at Perr}-sville included these: Drs. E. T. 
Spotswood, James T. Henderson, James Webb, J. AV. Smith, D. B. Johnson. 

.\. BLIND PHYSICIAN. 

1 )i'. Cuthbert F. Keyes, deceased, \\as born near Dugee Ferry, in Indiana, 
in the vear 1S22. and in 1826 was brought by his parents to Vermillion county, 
where he was reared to manhood. His father was a gunsmith and wagon- 
maker and while he kept his slaves at work in the gun factory, the white men 
worked at the wagon yard and he himself ran boats on the Potomac river. 
After his father's death he lived with his mother and uncle, attending school 
at Clinton, riding to and fro night and morning. He spent a portion of his 
younger life clerking in a store for liis uncle and passed from this to the 
study of medicine, with Drs. Kile and Palmer at Clinton. He studied medi- 
cine some time and during this time he had to work for his board, doing anv 
little odd jobs he could find, but this only helped to make the man he after- 
ward became. He then went to St. Louis, where he attended one term of 
lectures. June 30, 1846, he married Miss Jane Bales, they beginning their 
married life on the farm. Here he began the practice of his profession, which 
he followed until he went to St. Louis to attend a second term of lectures. Tn 
this term his eyes began to fail and he became blind. He still continued the 
lectures. Professor Van Zant giving him the prix'ilege of this term free and 
at the close commended him for his close attention and industrv, although 
he was stone blind. His eyes were treated in the city at the same time. At the 
time of the birth of his son. Dr. O. M. Keyes (now of Dane), he was blind. 
W'hen he returned to his home from St. Louis he found, bv the care and in- 
dustry of his good wife that his affairs had been kept in good order. He sub- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, IN1)L\XA. 323 

sequently moved to Clintdii, hut l)ecoiiiing dissatisfied, lie returned tu liis 
farm, where he praeticed medicine until his death. On the morning of that 
day he arose, ate a hearty breakfast and started for Bono, about tliree miles 
south of Dana, to see a patient. On his way he suffered a sudden and severe 
attack of congestion of the stomach and Ijowels. 1 ie succeeded in reaching 
Bono and, lea\ing his team unhitched, staggered into b'rank Austin's store, 
where he fell on the floor, exclaiming, as he fell, that he had come there to die. 
He was taken to the house of Mr. Austin, w here everything possible was done 
to alleviate his intense agonw Doctor I^all was sent for. but one lunu* before 
he arrived, and at ten o'clock that same e\ ening, the restless spirit of the old 
veteran took its flight to that bourne whence no traveler returns. \o man 
was more successful in the county than he in his methods of treatment of dis- 
eases, and none had a more extensive professional experience. He never re- 
fused a call because the patients were poor. He was one of the few who fol- 
lowed his profession not for the purpose of amassing a great fortune, but be- 
cause he took delight in alleviating the sufferings of his fellow mortals. He 
was a man of kind disposition and noble and generous impulses, and was ready 
to make any sacrifices for the accommodation of a friend or neighbor. Though 
somewhat eccentric in his style, his warm and sympathetic nature and his 
kind and generous disposition made him a host of friends. Dr. Keyes left a 
wife and three sons and two daughters, in sad bereaxement by his death. 
Thus, one by one. the old pioneers pass awa}', leax'ing the world and the duties 
incumljenl on life to the rising generation. 

PII>'S1CL\NS T'KACTICIXC. IX TQI^-T^. 

At the date aliox'e gi\'en the (loctor>> jiracticing in Ibis connt\ were as 
follows : 

At Clinton— l)r>. (i. \V. Ashley, l". II. Heeler. V.. A. l-'.vans. W. 1). { ler- 
rish, C. E. Ragan, Annabale Solarglis (Italian). 1) C. Shaff. .\. .\. Washburn. 
Henry Washburn. 1. D. White and Dr. Reese. 

.\t Perrysville — Drs. Sanders and I.oomis. 

At St. Bernice — Drs. (jreen, Lonsdale and T. Newton. 

At Universal (Bunsen) — One physician was in active practice. 

At Newport — Drs. I. M. Casebeer, M. L. Hall and one other. 

At Cayuga — Drs. E. A. Flaugher, M. P. and S. C. Darroch, M. R. Pol- 
lom. 

.\t Dana — Drs. O. M. Keyes. D. S. Strong, W. C. Myers. G. C. Tritchett 
and Dr. Creen. 



324 PARKE AND \ERM1LLI0N COCNTIES, JNUIANA. 

COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETIES. 

Perlia])s, outside ot the efforts to keep ali\e a cmmt}- agricultural society 
and hold annual exhihits of farm products, there is no other organization so 
hard to keep alive and in working order as a county medical society. This 
should not be so. but such is the almost uni\'ersal fact, not alone in Indiana, 
but in every section of the Union. Just when the first attem])t at maintaining 
such a societv of the medical men in ^''ernlillion county was made is not now 
known. It is certain, however, that more than forty years ha\'e elapsed since 
there was such an effort put forth, and it resulted in the organization of what 
was termed the X'ermillion County Medical Societ)'. It was in July. 1869. 
when a meeting was held at Newport, comprising James McMeen and Will- 
iam C. Eichelbarger, of Eugene : Hiram and Lewis Shepherd, of Quaker 
Point : Henry C. Eaton, of Brouillet's Creek, and M. L. Hall and C. Leavitt, 
of Newport, for the purpose of organizing a countx' medical society. This 
meeting adjourned to meet again a week or two later, but no further account 
is found of the afifair until in 1873. when they organized, electing Dr. I. B. 
Hedges, of Clinton, president. Sub.sequently the membership reached twenty- 
two, but the association was pennitted to run down in the course of about four 
years. 

The files of the Hoosicr State, published at Newport, mention the fact 
that in April, 1904, state organizer. Dr. M. A. Boor, of Terre Haute, was in 
Newport and formed a countv society, with officers as follows : President, 
M. L. Hall, Newport: vice-president. \\". P. Darroch. of Cayuga: secretary, 
O. M. Keyes, of Dana: treasurer, O. A. Newhouse, of Hillsdale. This so- 
ciety, however, went down, as did all the others. One reason assigned is the 
fact that I'linton has most of the physicians in this county, and the\' are 
located at the south end of the county, nearer to \'igo county and Terre 
Haute, which is easier of railroad access than the northern and western part 
of this county, hence the doctors run down there and attend the society there, 
while on the northern strip of \'erniillion county the physicians can easil\- go 
to Dan\-ille, Illinois. 



CHAPTER XII. 



NEWSi'.VPERS OI- VKRMII.I.ION COrNTY. 



For its size, Vermillion has always had as many, if not more, local 
newspapers than it could successfully support. 

In Clinton the history of journalism may be summed up In- the following 
cliang"es in offices and editors, regardless of the many locations or buildings 
in which the offices were kept, which is of little account, as all business houses 
and street numbers are subject to changes, for which the ordinary reader 
cares little. One press printed all the earlier new spajjcrs in Clinton, save the 
Argus alone. In 187^^ the Clinton Exponcnl was established by 1>. .'^. Rlack- 
ledge and James R. Ilaker. It was decidedly a Reiiublican organ. Its editor 
was F. I.. Whedon, from Ohio, at first. I'aker soon sold his interest to his 
partner, ;ind Mr. Rlackledge conducted the paper until Xoxeniber, iS7'i. when 
he sold to Lyman E. Knapp. In June. 1877, he sold to \\. S. Kna])]>, but it is 
related that King Alcohol foreclosed a mortgage and it "went up the spout." 
It r.aised its feeble efforts at existence next at Perr\s\ille, as the Exponent of 
that place. It only survived a short time, and some time in 1877 it was lx)ught 
by an attorney of Clinton. name<l II. A. While, who removed the material 
back to Clinton, and there started the Western hidian'hin. in the building- 
later used as a meat market by Harry lhidle\-. It was not long befurc the 
])olitics was changed to that of Xational. 

While sold to 'V . A. Kibby, H. S. b"l\ans ;nid John McMahon. In Sep- 
tember. i87(;. .\fr, Kibby leased the office to L. O. Bishop and others. In 
June. 18X0, this firm jnirchased the Clinton Herald, to which the Western 
Jndianian had lieen changed bv E\-ans, and ]>ublished it until lul\- 1, i88j, 
w hen it was sold. 

August 31. 1882, Mr. P>ishop e.stablished the Satin-itav .irc/iis. The 
Herald suspended after struggling hard for o\ er :\ ■\-e.ar and ;i half. 

It was about this time that .Mexauder .Myers entered the uewspa|)er 
field, by establishing the Toinahazvk and Scalping Knife, which he ver\- soon 
changed to the Democrat, which died a natural death after six weeks' pul)lica- 
tion. In June, 1884, there came out the Clinton Siftings. which had trouble 
to "sift" out a living for about three \-ears, then went the wav of all the earth. 



326 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Among the pioneers in the newspaper field here, tlie Argits lias pnlled 
through to the present date, through storm and sunshine, ever advocating the 
honest, unbiased con\-ictions of its editor. Lucius O. Bishop, who, through 
lieated poHtical campaigns and local Inckerings, has steadilx- made new patrons 
and friends and held his old ones. He is a practical printer, and a writer of 
no uncertain language, hewing to the line, when the case demands it, but 
ever holding aloof from the low and sensational in the selection of his subject 
matter. The .-ii'f/us comes forth on Saturday each week in the }ear, full of 
bright, sparkling news items, and editorials such as the pen of Mr. Bishop 
has been able to inscrilje for so manv years. He. having been raised in a 
print-shop, knows its every intricate detail. It ma\ be said, as of another 
paper, "Tf you see it in the Saturday Arfjiis it is true." 

The Clintonian, daily and weekly, was established in the eighties and was> 
the direct successor of the Clinton Republican, a four-page, six-column paper. 
Republican in its politics. The Clintoman is owned and edited by J. W. 
Pierce and is run on an iiuproved Campbell ])ress, by an electric motor. Sub- 
scription rate, one dollar and twenty-five cents per year. It is independent 
in politics. November 5, 1912. a dail_\- edition was established, a six-column, 
four to eight-page, rate five dollars per annum. The plant is full\- erpu'pped 
with linot\'pe, folder and jobbers, all run bv electricitv. The office has lieen 
twice enlarged in the last five years. The present jmblisher consolidated the 
Clinton Plaindcalcr (run here from 1906 to 1908 by C. C \^annest and C. H. 
Vaughn) with the weekly Clintotiiau. The present [julilications are u])-to- 
date in all features and voice the sentiments of the enter])rising, progressive 
element in the community in which it circulates. 

The Clinton Tiuies ( weekl)-) was established in the month of AlaA', i(;i i, 
by S. E. Mendenhall, who was succeeded in October of the same year by 
the law firm of Johnson, I^righam & Zell, who still own and conduct the 
paper, hiring a foreman for the mechanical part of the business. It is a Re- 
publican paper, a seven-column folio in size, all home-print. The rate of sub- 
scription per year is one dollar. A fine job de])artnient is attached to the 
news]iaper business. It is located on East Mulberry street, and the paper is 
published each Thursday, finding a good circulation in A^ermillion. Parke and 
Vigo counties. 

The Dana A^czcs, one of the county's reliable, readal)le local newspapers, 
was established by M. I,. Griffith, of ]\Ionticello. Illinois, as a Democratic 
paper, which it is at this time. The date of its establishment was October i. 
1885. .\i)ril 15, 1887, he .sold the paper to J. L. Smith, who sold to Miss 
Beatrice Taylor in 1894. She sold to G. W. Sturm in iScjX, and in 190S he 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDLXNA. ^2/ 

sold to the present owner and editor, J. II. Jordan, who conducts a six-cohunn 
eight-i)age paper, and has a suliscription rate of one dollar and twenty-five 
cents per year. The machinery in this office is now prcipelled liy gasoline 
])0\\er, and has included w ithin its e(|nipment a good job office. The name of 
this paper has changed with the whims of every one who has owned the 
])lant. First, the Nczcs; then the I'cnuillioii Dcmocmt. under J. L. Smith; 
the Record, under Miss Taylor ; the Vcriuillion County News, under George 
W. Sturm, an<l changed hack to its original title, the Pana Xcics. by its pres- 
ent editor. 

The newspaper history of Newport is indeed replete with many excellent 
and unique features. The first paper established there was the Olirr Braiuii. 
bv .\. J. .\dams, later of Danville, Illinois, fame. Its editor was A. I). I'atton. 
Xearh- the first, if not indeed the first, issue of this ])aper was dated Decem- 
ber 21). 1853. Its head (like most iiaiiers in those da\s ) had for a motto 
catchv words, "We hold the balance with an eipial band, and weigh wliate\er 
justice doth demand." Politicall}-. the OIke Branch was Whig, and u]:)on 
the (irganization of the Republican party became its organ in this section of 
Indiana. The first numbers of this pioneer newspaper had but little original 
matter. sa\e an occasional editorial. The salutator\" occupied a column in 
length. It advertised with considerable gusto tlie fact that it had contribu- 
tors, naming these : Rev. David Taylor. Terre Haute : Robert Ross, princi- 
pal of the Terre Haute pulilic schools: Samuel Ta\lor, principal of the New- 
port Seminary: Dr. H. H. Patten. Princeton. Indiana, and J. S. .Sawyer, of 
Vincennes. 

The latc'^t telegraphic news was <lated December ijlh, IweKe ila\> prior 
to the date of the ]>aper"s issue. Most of the ad\'ertisements were from Terre 
Haute business men. One item of real local news was that the Evans\ille & 
Terre Haute railroad had just been completed between the two ])oints. \\', A. 
Henderson had the only home advertisement in the paper, which occu])ieil an 
inch of space in one column, telling the ])eople that he kept drugs and ])atent 
medicines, groceries and fionr. J- M. Hood ga\e notice that his tele.graph 
office was situated on the east side of the Square with Mr. Henderson. The 
subscription price for this paper was one dollar and fifty cents if paid in 
advance, and two dollars at the end of six months, also another fift\- cents was 
<lemanded if it was not paid within the year. 



328 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUXTIF.S. IXIUAXA. 

THK HOOSIER STATE. 

This old and iini\ ersalh- well kiniwii pulilicalii m was ihe i)ul,i;"ro\\ th ul 
the Olii'r Bnnich. and had its liirtli in 1S33. It was ])uhlished at I'lintnn for 
a time, hut later returned lo Newport, w liere it has ever since remained. The 
proprietors and editors inchide Pratt & .\danis, James M. Hood. Samuel H. 
Huston (1855. at Clinton), Mr. Camphell. Mitchell, \'au! ( 1858). a company 
with William E. Livengood. (ieorge W. English ( 1862-63), Col. H. D. Wash- 
burn. S. B. Davis, Joseph B. Cheadle, S. B. Davis (second time). Many of 
these men became state and national characters, in one field or another. The 
halls of Congress claimed Cheadle and the battlefield claimed Washburn, 
while l)a\is made a record as an editorial writer nf more than ordinars- note. 
Mr. Davis took the paper from Washburn in January, 1868. 

In the winter of 1873--O "liuftalo liill" wrote a serial for the Ihuisicr 
State, entitled "Three ^"ears in Ctah." 

.Mr. l)a\is. so long connected wilh this ]ja])er. was the county treasurer 
of Vermillion count)- when the thirt}-fi\e thousand dollar robbery occurred, 
mention of which is given in detail elsewhere in this \-olume. S. B. Davis 
was, at the time he (|uit the ])a])er. the oldest editor in Indiana in point of 
consecutive service, and he always ran a staunch, uncompromising Republican 
paper. He was fearless. Init always fair. In 1893, on Mav ist, he retirefl 
from the actual management of the pai)er, and took in with him his son, 
changing the st\le to S. B. Davis & Son. Three years later he again took 
charge, but had for his associates his sons, liird H. and !•". W. I)a\is. who 
assisted in the \\ork of editing and ])uhlishing the pajier. until the senior 
Da\-is' death. .\])ril 2. i(;o8. since which time the son. Bird II.. has cunducted 
the ])a])er. which ])roperty was left to the wife of S. B. Davis, who is still 
residing in Newport. Tlie name of the business has ne\'er been changed, l>ut 
still runs as that of S. B. Davis & Son. Bird H. Da\is. ])resent manager an<l 
editor, commenced the printer's trade at the age of nine years, when lie had tn 
Stand on a box to elevate him sufficiently high to set type from the cases. He 
knows all the ins and outs of newsijaperdom and stands high among his fellow 
journalists. The circulation of the popular Hoosirr State is extensi\e. going 
as it does into thirt\"-two states and foreign countries. It enteis two hundred 
and twenty-five ])Ostofbces in this counlrw It is run im a ])ower press. b\- 
gasoline engine. The Hoosirr State is now a six-column quarto, thirty bv 
forty- four inches in size, and an eight-page paper; its publication day is 
AVednesday, and its subscription rate is one dollar and twenty-five cents per 



PARKE AND VKRMII.I.ION COTNTIES. INDIANA. 329 

year. Politics, Republican. Its special feature is all the printable news. It 
has long been known as "the old reliable." 

The .\'r7i'.v/'i(/'rr I'liion a lew \ears since bad this ccmcerniiif^' the ])resent 
editor. Bird H. Da\is ; ■"lie was born in Newport. Indiana. .\\)r\\ 29. i8f^K^. 
He has a common and bij^jh school education. He did bis first work at the 
case when onlv nine \ears of age, when be bad to stand nn a box to reach the 
case. He would \\(irk in the office during the summer months and go to 
school in the winter time until 1887. when he became foreman of the ofifice, 
which ])nsition he held until Ma\' 1. i8()3, when he became manager and local 
editor, and has ^-erxed in that capacitv until the present dax I 10041. He is 
maniecl and has three children." 

What was styled the I'rniiillioii TnDiscrif^t was started at Xew])ort in 
about iSjj. as an opposition Democratic organ. b\ Harrison Jump, who van 
it fifteen months, sunk one thousand nine hundred dollars and then sold the 
plant, wliich was moved away. 

C.WVGA NEWSP.VPKKS. 

.\la\ 14, 1887. the first ])a])er of the ])lace was issued, as the Cayuga 
Joiinia!. lames E. \\'hi])])le. editor and ])roprietor. The second ])aper in the 
village was the llcraUI. whicli was established aliout i88<). It was edited by 
gentlemen in the following order, as near as can now be detertnined : \\. L. 
Hil)erly. then Charles R. Cook, who sold to A. ('. C'onfiff. tlie latter conduct- 
ing the paper until March 4. 18(^3. when it passed into the hands of llemp- 
hill & Huls; Hemphill remained its editor until June 2. 1894, when the paper 
was lx)ught b\' J. Wallace Miller, and was then published by the Miller 
Brothers till Jaiuiary 1. 1904, when it ])assed to its ])resent owner ;uiil editor, 
A. Carter Hutchinson. It is now a se\"en-cohimn folio, all home ])rint; snb- 
scri])tion ])rice. one dollar and tw ent\-live cents, ;uid in ])olitics is Democratic, 
The printing macbinerv of the office is now ])ro])elled by a gasoline engine. 

Through the kindness of the present editor of the Cayuga Herald we are 
in possession of the following facts concerning other news])ai)er \entiu-es at 
Cavuga. .\ cop\- o\ the Cayuga Tiuuw. dated September 3. i88(). is in exist- 
ence. John Wooldridge was its editor. The Tribune, another local i)aper of 
the \illage, made its appeanmce early in the nineties, and was published by 
Boone (iibbons. Its career was brief, dying for lack of tinancial su[)port. 
Then came the Blur Pencil by '"Bob" Oslxirn. It was conducted a short time 
at Ca\nga and then mo\ed to Perrys\ille. where it existed for about two 
vears longer, when its owner moved the outtit to ( liiUon, this conntv. 



330 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

PIONEER NEWSPAPERS IN VERMILLION COUNTY. 

The Neivs- Letter, Vermillion coiintj's first paper, w as launched at Eu- 
gene in 1837 by Dr. R. M. Waterman and continued there six months. The 
plant was sold to J. R. Jones, who moved to Perrysville and there published 
the Pcrryszille Banner. Two years later Clapp & Roney o\\ ned the paper and 
called it the I'crinillion Register. It was next the Perryszille Repnbliean. with 
Austin Bishop as editor and proprietor. R. B. Dickason published at Perrys- 
ville the Eagle in the years from 1852 to 1855, selling out to a Mr. Robinson, 
and he to Benjamin Snodgrass. who finally let the ])aper go down. This was 
the earlier and later histor\- of journalism in Perrysxille. The attempts to 
make a success of the Register and Banner and all the res^ proved a failure 
financially. The Democratic organ, the Banner, was printed on a press first 
brought to Indiana in 1804, to Vincennes, whereon the Western Sun was also 
printed. 

From the files of the old Perryszille Banner for February. 1839. the fol- 
lowing interesting" items have been extracted, throwing light as they do on 
men and customs of that period : 

J. R. Jones was editor and proprietor. This is the twent\-fourtli number 
of its issue. It contains five columns to the page and was published at two 
dollars a year if paid in advance ; otherwise, three dollars. The number con- 
tained a large amount of congressional and legislative new s of this state and 
but very little original or local matter. 

Hiram Barnes, of Perrysville, advertises for a "professional" man to 
take charge of an ox team. Edmund James, a justice of the peace, of Helt 
township, publishes an attachment notice, on the affidavit of Silas Rhodes, 
against the chattels of Simon and Martin Gilbert. The name of Permelia 
Smith appears as the administratrix of the estate of Daniel Smith. George W. 
Palmer, justice of the peace, notifies the readers that Ephraim Driscol. of 
Highland township, had taken up an estray steer, four years old. which was 
appraised at twelve dollars by James Welch and Tom Lowers. James Thomp- 
son, school commissioner of the county, gives fair warning that he will sell 
fifteen tracts of land for taxes, if not paid before the day of sale. S. and B. 
Turman notify the people where they can procure cheap dry goods, etc. Will- 
iam Whipps gives notice of his appointment as administrator of the estate 
of Thomas J. Reed, lately deceased. Perrin Kent also gives notice to the 
efifect that he has taken out letters of administration on the estate of Ji)hn 
Tax'lor. late of \\'arren county, deceased. Tiie widow and heirs of Iaco1> 



PARKE AND \ EKM IM-ION COUN'TIES, TXIUANA. 33I 

Parke give due notice that they will make appHcalii)n to llie next cuurt to 
have commissioners appointed to assign and set ofi the \\ idow "s dower, in the 
real estate of said deceased. 1 )r. Waterman i^iNes notice that the partnership 
heretofore existing between himself and i)r. Small is dissolved. Crawford & 
Jackson, proprietors of an oil mill, advertise that they will gi\e the highest 
price for flax and hemp seed, or castor l)eans. (leorge \\ . Palmer offers a one- 
horse wagon and harness cheap fur cash. j. W. Downing, justice of the peace, 
gives notice that an iron gra_\- mare taken up 1)\- James Rush was appraised by 
William T. Dole and A. Al. H. Robinson at forty-five dollars before him on 
November 24, 1838. W illiam Bales, sherifif, advertises tlie real estate of 
John I'^ousdick for sale at public auctinn t(j satisfv a judgment in favor of 
Silas Kellough. \\'illiam Dunning and 1. Dill. Joshua Skidmore. of Clinton. 
gives notice as follows: "'Whereas my wife. Mary, has left my bed and board 
without just cause or provocation. I do hereby warn all jjeisons, bod\- politic, 
or corporate, and of w hatever name or title, not to credit or harbor her on my 
account, as T am determined not to pay any of her debts after this date. Janu- 
ary I, 1839." The names of Durham Hood and Margaret Craft appear as 
administrators of the estate of John Craft, late of Eugene. Roseberry & 
Jewett, dry goork merchants, of I'errysville, occupy about une-third of a 
column in enumerating their large arrixal of new goods. William J. Xichols 
and James H. Corey, of Eugene, inform the ])eople where to get their saddles 
and cheaj) harness. Dr. T. S. Davidson tenders his pn)fession;il services to 
the citizens of Perrysville and adjoining country. 1 lall & (ie.ssie announce the 
reception of new goods in a neat two-inch card. Jones & Smith call attention 
in a four-inch card to their stock of fall and winter goods. Nathan Reed and 
J. H. AIcNutt re<picst that tho.se indebted to them for professional services 
come forward and square up by cash or note immediately. Jacob Riley in- 
forms the readers that he has found a silk handkerchief supposed to be worth 
a dollar and a quarter, which the owner can have b\ paying for the ad\-er- 
tisement. ('•. W. Palmer, justice of the jieace. gives notice that John Fultz 
has taken up two estray heifers which were appraised at six dollars each, by- 
Samuel Lacy and James Crawford, before him December 15, 1838. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



BANKING. 



Tile first Ijankint;- liouse estal)lishe(l in X'erniillion county was the First 
National Bank, at New port, by Josephus and John Collett. Abel Sexton. Isaac- 
Porter, R. H. Nixon and Clark Leavitt. who opened u\i in a fine new bank 
buiklinQ erected especially for that purpose, at the northwest corner of the 
public square. It was not long before it surrendered its "national" charter and 
under the same Iward of directors, it was changed in title to the Vermillion 
County Bank, with a paid-up capital of $60,000 and a surplus of over $6,000. 
In January. 1880, it was again changed, taking the name of Collett & Com- 
])anv"s Bank, comprising Prof. John Collett. of Indianapolis. Stephen !■". Col- 
lett. lit Xe\\])iirt. Mrs. Henry H. Campbell, of Crawfordsville. and Joshua 
Juni]) i)f Newport. Later, S. S. Collett became general manager and |. D. 
Collett. cashier, and the capital in 1887 was $27,000. This bank went out of 
business in 1892. 

At Clinton, the Citizens Bank, now located at No. 141 ]\lain street, was 
organized in .\pril. 1803, with Decatur Downing, jjresident: W . 11. Bonner, 
cashier. The officers in 1912 were: \\'illiam li. Robinsim, president; Will- 
iam L. More}-, vice-president; A. W. Hedges, cashier; V. G. ^\'right. assistant 
cashier. The capital stock is now $40,000. having been increased from $22.- 
000. The bank ])urchased a business block on the west side of Second street 
(usually called Main street), which they ha\e occupied a numljer of vears; at 
first they were located on the east side of the same street. The j^resent direc- 
tors of this institution are W. H. Robinson. David McBetli, ^^^ L. Morey, M. 
M. Scott and .\. ^^'. Hedges. The total resources of the bank were, in the 
autumn of igi2, $407,535.93. 

.\t the close of business November 26, T912. their statement to the 
auditor of state .showed the following figures : 

Loans and discutuits $237. 233. 71; Due from other banks $112,740.00 

Overdrafts 1^9-23 Cash on hand 21.716.00 

l\ S. bonds lo.ooo.oo Checks and drafts 494-25 

Other bonds and securi- Premiums paid on bonds^ 722.00 

ties T9. 500.00 

Banking house 5.000.00 Total resources $407,535.93 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. ^^^ 

Capital stock $ 40.000.00 Demand deposits $315,254.52 

Surplus 30.000.00 neniand certificates 14.488.04 

l'ndi\ided profits 3.700.00 

Exchange, di.scounts. etc. 4.093.37 Total lial)ilities $407,535.93 

The First National I'.ank at flinlon was ur^ani/cd in December, kjoj. 
by L. A. Whitcomb. The officers were: James H. Wilson, president; Kd- 
ward Shirke. vice-president; J. Clark Smith, cashier. The present and first 
capital i)f this institution was $30,000. The present officers are: J()sei)h W. 
.Strain, president; Edward Shirke. \ice-president : (). F. Houston, cashier. 
The directors are; Edward Shirke. Harmon K. Morgan. Frank L. Swine- 
hart. B. fl. Morgan, Joseph \\'. Strain. John R. Newton. Hal R. McClellan. 
The Nox'ember statement of this bank shows the following : 

Loans ;ni(l discomits $T^^-37o-3'^' Capital jjaid in $ 30.000.00 

()\er(lrafts 146-95 Surplus : 11,000.00 

l\ S. bonds 7,500.00 Undivided profits 3.902.49 

Other bonds 14,000.00 Circulation 7,500.00 

i'.ank furniture and fix- Deposits 284.014.39 

tures 12,000.00 

Due from banks and U. S 94,312,16 

Cash in \ ault 20,084.35 



Total resources $336,416.88 Total liabilities $330,416.88 

The I'irst .Xational Bank of Dana was organized m mjoi. with the same 
officers as are still serving; S. E. Scott. jDresident ; .'^. |. Ilall. \ ice-president : 
Charles Wolfe, cashier; S. E. Scott. S. J. Hall. Charles Wolfe. T, H. Catlin. 
J. Jump. Joel Hollingsworth, S. E. Kaufman, Joseph Jackson and J. II. 
I'illinger. directors. 

This bank commenced w ith a ca])ital of $25,000, which has been increased 
to $40,000. Their statement September 4, 1912, reads as follows: 

i-oans and discounts $192,039.72 Capital stock $ 40,000.00 

Overdrafts 2,382.46 Suri)lus fund 30,000.00 

Cnited States bonds 25,000.00 Cn<li\ided profits 1,630.89 

Other bonds 8.r)oo.oo .Xational bank notes — out 25,000.00 

l-'urniture and fi.xtures- __ 1,908.27 Unpaid dividends 262.00 

Cash :uid exchange 118.066.96 Deposits 251.404.52 



Total resources $348,297.41 Total lialiilities $348,297.41 



334 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Not receiving" the regular data for the State Bank of Dana, the author 
has gathered the following concerning this institution. This bank was or- 
ganized in 1885 '^"'^' incorporated in 1903. Its ]:)resent capital is $30,000: 
surplus and undivided profits, $14,000. 

The First National Bank of Cayuga was organized August i. 1908. 
when they erected their own bank building, Tliis l>ank was established ini- 
mediatelv after the failure of the prixate bank of Malone & Soil It now has 
a ca])ital of $25,000, with $9,000 additional as a surplus, making $34,000 of 
a working capital. The first of^cers were Oscar O. Hamilton and Matthew P. 
Hoover. The present officials are : Oscar O. Hamilton, president : Henrv C. 
Randall, \ice-president : Matthew P. Hoo\er. cashier. The ]iresent { igii) 
stockholders are Milton W. Cof^n. William T. Coffin. Samuel Collison, Oscar 
O. Hamilton, ^latthew P. Hoover, ATonroe C Hosford, Henry C. Randolph. 
George L. Watson, William H. Roach. At the close of business June 7, 1911, 
the following was the statement made b}- this bank : 

Loans $100,326.99 Capital stock $ 25,000.00 

V. S. bonds to secure cir- Surplus 3,000.00 

dilation 25,000.00 I'ndivided profits 4,328.23 

Bond-^ and securities 13. 991. 47 Circulation 24. 990. 00 

Banking bouse, furniture Reser\-ed for taxes 304.16 

and fi.xtures 8.000.00 Deposits 125,460.55 

Cash on hand and due 

from banks 34.514.48 

Due from L'. S. treasurer 

(5 ])er cent, fund) 1,250.00 



Total resources $183,082.94 Total liabilities $183,082,94 

The Citizens State Bank of Newport was organized in December, ic)04. 
in w hich year they purchased the building in which they are still located. It 
was organized by the citizens of Newport and vicinity, who felt the need of 
a second bank at the county seat town. The first ofScers were : Maurice 
Hegerty, president: William P. Bell, cashier. There were originallv fortv- 
four stockholders and the capital was $25,000. The present officers are: 
Maurice Hegerty, president; V. N. Asbury, cashier. The present board 
of directors are A. R. Newlin, Guy F. Newlin. C. P. Potts, Silas V. Morgan, 
M. L. Holt. Maurice Hegerty. F. B. Brown and Charles M. Fultz. 

R, H. Nixon & Company's Bank, at Newport, was organized in 1872. 
with R. H. Nixon as its president. The same year in which the bank was 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 335 

Started a bank building was erected, and in 1892 the bank was partly burned, 
causing a loss of $1,500 above the insurance collected. In 1886 the bank 
had its sate blown open, but the robbers did not succeed in entering the inner 
chest, hence the loss was only $750. Its present capital is $30,000, with sur- 
plus amounting to $15,000. The officers now are: R. H. Xixon, president; 
H. \'. Nixon, cashier; B. R. Nixon, assistant cashier. 



CHAPTER XI\'. 



IKA.VSPORTATION FACILITIES. 



Before the mlroduction of canals and railroads, or even before wagon 
roads had been provided, the Wabash valley was the center of attraction, 
for the Wabash river was the only means of transjxjrtation of products and 
supplies. The towns and villages along this river were thus made the centers 
of trade and exchange. All the adjoining region, to the east in Indiana and 
to the west in Illinois, was compelled to bring its produce to the ri\'er Wabash 
for transportation to New Orleans and other Southern ports and markets. 
At first flat-boats bv hundreds and thousands, forty, fifty, sixty, one Jmndred 
and one hundred and twenty feet in length, were constructed, loaded with 
pork. hogs, beef cattle, corn, wheat, oats and hay and sent down south. 
I-'ive hundred of these Ixjats were sent out of the Big Vermillion river from 
Eugene, Danville and other points on that stream in a single season. Scarcely 
a day in the April. May and June floods but that from twenty to forty of 
these boats would pass. They were generally manned by a steersman, who 
also acted as captain ; four oarsmen, with long side sweeps, and one general 
utilitv bov who did the cooking. Supplies of food were taken along, and no 
boat was considered safely e(|uipped which had less than twenty gallons of 
whisky. 

To the boatmen this journey was a source of delight and pleasure, and 
one that even attracted the attention of minds like that of .\braham Lincoln. 
There was something about the romance of these "clown-river" trips that 
charmed the young and middle-aged. The water, the free open air. the 
natural scenery and health-giving exercise, all conspired to draw many men 
and youth into this occupation. Those who made these trips came home with 
a large fund of interesting stories of the Mississip]ii ri\er and the cities along 
its either shore. 

Dozens of captains and boatmen lived in Clinton, Eugene and Perrysville, 
Sometimes the Imatmen would come north through the Cherokee Xation on 
foot. This trip, however, was considered a dangerous one on account of the 
noted .gang of robbers known as "Murrell's Gang," of southern Illinois and 
western Kentuckv. ]\Ian\- men from southern Indiana. Ohio and east Ken- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. ^,2,7 

tuckv were robbed, but fortunately none frnni \ernnllion ecjunty were ever 
thus attacked. 

Mercantile and other su])i)lies were hauled by wagons across the Alle- 
ghany mountains, taken down the Ohio river in flat-boats and brought by 
keel-boats up the Wabash by push-poles and cordeling ropes, which were 
sent in advance, tied to trees and wound up on improvised capstans. The 
first steamboat made its appearance on the W^abash in 1820, and it was a 
ijreat and much-talked-of event, creating nuich i)ublic excitement. The peo- 
ple, one and all, wondered and rejoiced at the steaming monster. The scream- 
ing fife, the throbbing drum and the roaring cannon welcomed the newly 
applied power. Soon steamers became more common, as one or more might 
have been seen passing each day up or down the gently winding banks ot the 
Wabash. Once, when the \'erniillion was at its flood-tide and the river at 
Perrysville was obstructed with ice. as many as eleven steamers sought har- 
bor at Kugene. 

FREIGHTING BY WAGONS. 

Before steamboat days, however, especiall}- in the autumn and summer 
months, goods were brought from Evansville and Cincinnati by wagon. .Men 
usually went in companies for mutual protection and assistance, with five or 
six-horse teams. One of the lead horses always wore a set of bells. If a team 
got stuck in a mud hole, which they frecjuently did. it was the custotu for 
an\- other teamster with the same number of horses to make an eft'ort to pull 
the wagon out. In case of success the bells changed ownership. In this way 
tiie bells were constantly changing from one to another. In a few \e;us the 
river teats superseded this expensive mode of shipping. 

Tw enty-fi\"e vears and more ago it was written of \'ermil]ion county : 
"The surface of \'ermillion county is naturally far more fa\ orable for wagon- 
ing than most counties in Indiana. In addition to this, the enterprising citi- 
zens have added the following w ell-established turnpikes : One from Newport 
to Walnut tirove and Kugene: Xewport to Ouaker Point: from a point (jn 
the latter to Dana; from Dana to Clinton: from Clinton to the state line, on 
the Paris road ; Clinton to the county line, on the road to Terre Haute ; 
frotu Perrysville southwest about eighty miles. 

THE K.\II.RO.\I)S OF \KUM 11,1. ION COl-NTV. 

Here in \ermillion, as in all Indiana counties, the systems of railroads 
have had much to do with the development of the county, the building and 
(22 



338 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

undoing of long-ago-platted villages. As early as 1847 — sixty-five years ago 
— an east and west line of railway was projected through the county, yet the 
north and south railroad (now the Chicago & Eastern Illinois) was the first 
to be completed. The division from Evansville to Terre Haute was built in 
1853-4; but the link through Vermillion county, connecting Terre Haute 
with Danville, was not finished until it was taken up by Joseph Collett, Jr.. 
in 1868-69. This wealth}, enterprising gentleman, assisted by O. P. Davis. 
Nathan Harvey, \\'illiani E. Livengood, Joseph E. Cheadle and others, held 
rousing meetings throughout this county, and thoroughly, honestly explained 
the advantages of the railroad and the feasibility of building it with a very 
light tax. But little opposition was met w ith, nearly everyone desiring such 
a railroad communication. In 1869 all the townships in this county voted a 
two per cent. tax. the limit in Indiana for such purposes. It was really one 
per cent, in addition to the one per cent, tax which the count\- agreed to give, 
provided it should be needed. 

^^'hile this enterprise was going forward, other men were working on 
what wa*; .styled the "Raccoon Valley Railroad Company," planning to con- 
struct a railroad from Harmony, Clay county, to a point on the state line. 
near the roadbed of the old Indiana & Illinois Central railroad, passing 
through Clay. Parke and \"ermillion counties : but it was generall}- supposed 
by the citizens of Vermillion county to be a ruse, just prior to the x'ote to be 
taken on the north and south line, to defeat the latter, .\nother discourage- 
ment arose from other jjrojected east and west lines, notably the narrow- 
gauge route through Eugene township, in Avhich the people along that line 
felt much interest. The ensuing election, however, gave a decided majority 
for aiding the nortli and south line, then called the E\-ans\-ille. Terre Haute 
& Chicago railroad. This, under the management of Mr. Collett, was com- 
pletefl in 1870, to the universal satisfaction of the people of \'ermillion 
county, but not to many of the villages along its line, for the road was con- 
structed in the interests of the traders at Terre Haute and Danville more than 
for the local good of these villages and towns in \'ermillion county. The 
road was located a mile or more from many of these towns, except at Clinton, 
which tnok on new life and has prospered ever since, while manv of the river 
towns have suffered by reason of this line hav'ing been located so far back 
from the original town sites. 

Mr. Collett was elected president of the railroad and remained its exec- 
utive hear! until May i, t88o, when this link or division of the road was 
leased to the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Company, which corporation still 
owns and successfully njierates it. In \'ermillii)n cnuiitv there are 34. i- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 339 

miles of main track, and as early a'^ 1880 it was assessed at $17,000 per mile; 
seven miles of side-track, assessed at $2,500 i)er mile, and rolling stock at 
Si, 300. The principal stations in this county an- Clinton, Summit Grove, 
Hillsdale, Opeedee. Newport, Walnut Grove, Cayuga (Eugene), Perrysville, 
Gessie, and Rileysburg. 

THE WARASII l^\^.ROAn MISSED THIS COUNTY. 

What is now known as llic Wahash system was the first road proposed 
from cast to west through \'crmillion county. It was projected in 1847 ^"<^ 
was designed to run from Toledo Ohio, to Springfield. Illinois. Stock was 
suhscriljed in \'ermillion county and the route .surveyed. The first effort 
was to build the road to Paris and then on to St. Louis, .\fter much grading 
had been done, the enterprise changed management, and the result was that 
the route was changed and Lafayette and .\ttica obtained tine road, instead 
of Vermillion county. It was finished in t85T-5_'. The men who wdrked 
da\- and night for this line to be located through A'erniillioii county were 
James Blair. J. F. Smith. J. N. Jones, of Perrysville, and Joseph Moore 
and RoI)ert P.arnett, of Eugene. But their work failed to secure for this 
county the coveted railroad. After struggling and w-aiting man\' 'ong \ears 
a companv was finallv successful in obtaining two and one-fifth miles ot rail- 
road and a small flag station, the corporation being then styled the Indianapo- 
lis, Bloomington & \\"estern. but in the late eighties this was taken over by 
the present system styled the "Big I'our.'" which crosses the ^^'abash river 
at Co\ington. Fountain county, and simplv touches \'ernn'llion territory as 
abo\e noted, less than three nu'les in distance of main track. 

THE OLD INDIANAPOLIS, DECATUR AND SPRINGFIELD LINE. 

This railway was com])leted in 1874, without nnicli aid from the people. 
About 1854. when so many roads were projected and so few finished, the 
Indiana il- Illinois Central Railway Coni])aii\- nearly com])leteil the grading 
of this route. Later the Indianaiiolis, IMoomington & Western Companv 
leased the road. It has nine and a half miles within \^ermillion count}', with 
station points at Hillsdale and one at Dana, near the state line between In- 
diana and Illinois. Subsequentl}-, it passed into the hands of what is known 
as the Cincinnati. Hamilton S: Dayton Company, and they operated it until 
the summer of 1912. when it was taken over by the Baltimore &• Ohio sv.stcm. 
It crosses the \\'^abash at Hillsdale, passes through the southern ]X)rtion of 
Montezuma, and so on through Parke county. 



340 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

THE OLD NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD. 

Alore than an\- other portion of \'erniiUion. the citizens of Eugene town- 
ship were interested in the old narrow-gauge line. Thev voted a tax. took 
subscriptions, and aided in all possible ways, but finally the project failed. 
The link here was then known as the Frankfort & State Line Road. The 
Toledo. Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad Company constructed the road, of a 
narrow gauge, in 1882, but, like the original company, left the village of 
Eugene a mile and a half away, crossing the Chicago & Eastern Illinois line 
at Cayuga. In 1886 the company was reorganized under the name of the 
Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Railway (narrow gauge). They proceeded 
to enlarge the track to the standard gauge, put on first-class rolling stock and 
made the highway in all respects up-to-date. The longest bridge on this 
road is the one crossing the Wabash opposite Eugene, having five spans of 
one hundred and sixty feet each. There are eight and one-half miles of this 
road within Vermillion county. 

THE ELECTRIC LINE. 

Clinton, in this county, is the western terminus of the Terre Haute, In- 
dianapolis & Eastern Traction Company, that has a line from Terre Haute to 
Clinton, and runs its interurban trains every hour of the day, making a 
great convenience for the people desiring to trade in Terre Haute. It is a 
well equipped electric highway with all modern impro\ements. 

THE CHICAGO, TERRE HAUTE .\ND SOUTHEASTERN. 

Tiiis railroad was generally styled the "Walsh road" on account of its 
having been built largely through the capital furnished b_\- that noted capital- 
ist and Chicago banker, John R. \VaIsh, who finally was arrested for mis- 
management of the people's money and, after serving in the government 
prison in Kansas for his ill-doings, was pardoned after several years, and 
soon died. This line of railroad, in its course from Chicago to the great coal 
fields of Indiana, runs through Danville and Terre Haute sections and. en 
route, traverses the western line of \'ermillion county, with a station or two, 
including West Dana, where it crosses the old Cincinnati, Hamilton & Day- 
ton road. It was projected and completed early in the first decade of this 
century, about 1905. It transports immense quantities of coal. The length 
of its main track in this countv is a fraction over seventeen miles. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 34I 

PRESENT RAILROAD MILEAGE IN THE COUNTY. 

According to the latest oftkial returns to the state authorities, the fol- 
lowing is the mileage for tiie various railroads within \'erniillion county : 

Clinton City — Chicago & Eastern Illinois, eighty-nine one-hundredths 
miles. 

Dana (town) — The Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western (now Balti- 
more & Ohio), one-half mile. 

Newport (town) — Chicago & Eastern Illinois, t\vent_\-four unc-hun- 
dredtlis miles. 

Cayuga (town) — Chicago &- Eastern Illinois, ninety-eight one hun- 
dredths miles. 

Clinton City — Chicago & Eastern Illinois, eighty-nine one-hundredths 
miles. 

Highland ToNvnship — Chicago & Eastern Illinois, eight and eighty-seven 
one-hundredths miles. Peoria & Eastern, two and nineteen one-hundredths 
miles. 

Eugene Townshij:) — Chicago & Eastern Illinois, six and nine one-hun- 
dredths miles. Toledo. St. Louis & Western, five and seventy-nine hundredths 
miles. 

Vermillion Township — Chicago & Eastern Illinois, six and seventy-three 
one-hundredths miles. Chicago, Terre Haute & Southeastern, two and twen- 
ty-nine one-hundredths miles. 

Clinton Township — Chicago & Eastern Illinois, one and eighty-five hun- 
dredths miles. Chicago, Terre Haute & Southeastern, six and three one- 
hundredths miles. 

Helt Township — Chicago & Eastern Illinois, nine miles. Chicago, Terre 
Haute 1.1- Southeastern, nine miles. The C. I. & W. line, eight and seventy- 
four hundredths miles. 

Total mileage in county, seventy-two and sixty-five one himdredths 
miles. Main line tracks only given. 

GR.WEI. ROAD.S IN THE COUXTV. 

In 1910 the following gravel roads were listed by the county as having 
been constructed and then in use : 

In Highland township there were sixty miles. 

In Eugene township there were twenty-three miles. 



342 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

In Vermillion township there were fifty-one miles. 

In Helt township there were seventy-six miles. 

In Clinton township there were sixty-six miles. 

The average number of miles per township was fifty-five and sixty-eight 
one-hundredths miles. The total mileage in Vermillion county was at that 
date three hundred. 



CHAPTER X\^ 



AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS. 



Indiana is a farming state, and among her small, but excellent, agricul- 
tural districts is Vermillion county, washed by the western shores of the 
famous W'abasli river. Indeed it has been long ago remarked that "every 
foot of this county is good farming land." Originally, one-fourth of its area 
was prairie and three-fourths timber lain!. The most of the prairie land is a 
rich black soil, while the remainder of the county is rich bottom land of the 
first and second variety. The entire county is easily drained and available to 
good cultivation. Especially the lower bottom lands are rich, much of it 
being suliject to inundations, which lea\es a sediment eijual to the soil found 
in the celebrated \allev of the .Xile in l'"g\pt. i lerc corn is supreme!}' en- 
throned as king of the crops produced. .\lso as high as sixty-hve bushels of 
nheat have been raised per acre, while one hundred and ten bushels of corn 
ha\e been raised in Vermillion county. 

-\t ;m early day, ilax was grown in unniense quantities. The llax i)ro- 
duced was mixed with cotton purchased, and woven into cloth. Then every 
house was a miniature factory. The machinery used for manufacturing flax 
consisted of a brake, a wooden kiiife to swingle out shix'es with, a hetchel or 
hackle to remove the tow and straighten mit the lint. They also used the 
small si>iiming wheel ("jenny") to twist it into thread, hor cotton, a hand 
gin was used, and hand cards were em])loyed to m.ake it into rolls, which 
were spun into thread upon a large spinning-wheel. A day's work for a 
woman was to card and spin from six to eight cuts. Ready-made clothing 
was not then known in the markets of the world. Nearly every man was his 
own shoemaker. Some of the more busy settlers employed an itinerant cob- 
bler, who usually made his trips from house to house in the autumn months 
and winter season, having with him his little kit of shoemaker's tools, with 
which he took the measure and made by hand the boots and shoes needed in 
the family. If the leather ran out before the youngest child was "shod." 
then he or she had to go without shoes, which often happened. 

When this county was first settled, no one could take less than a <|uarter 
section of land, which at government price was two dollars per acre, and tbi'^ 



344 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. ' 

often strained the purse of the would-be land Imyer. Congress soon found 
out the hardship this worked and, desiring that ah should be permitted to 
engage in farming pursuits, which is the policy of all progressive govern- 
ments, it reduced the amount that might be entered to forty acres, and placed 
the price at one dollar and a cjuarter per acre, which permitted anyone who 
could raise fifty dollars to secure a comfortable home for himself and family, 
if he was fortunate in having one to help him enjoy the independence and 
battle with the hardships of a true-hearted pioneer farmer. Many men took 
advantage of this wise congressional provision and entered from fort\- to one 
hundred and sixty acres of Vermillion county land. This was the base of the 
agricultural prosperity found on every hand in this county today. 

While statistics are usually "dry reading," these must be presented in 
order to show the resources of the soil and mine. Hence the reader is re- 
ferrei! to extracts from state reports on the subject, and in this case the items 
will be condensed as far as practicable, and are as follows, for the year 1880 
— thirty-two years ago^ — and also for 1910: 

In 1880, \'ermillion county was reported to have produced 635,000 
bushels of wheat; of corn, 663,000 bushels; oats, 76,000 bushels; barley, 
1,780 bushels; rye, more than 5,CK)0 bushels; Irish potatoes, 18,000 bushels; 
sweet potatoes, 840 bushels; buckwheat, 160 bushels; tobacco, 1,700 pounds; 
timothy seed, 800 bushels. 

In 1910 the reports show: Corn raised, 45,000 acres, i,yT,g,ooo Inishels; 
oats, 18,857 acres, 599,000 bushels; wheat, 12,252 acres, 230.000 bushels; rye, 
257 acres, 3,772 bushels; clover seed 361 acres, 34,508 bushels; hay and 
forage, 11.000 acres, 15,000 tons; timothy, 7,644 acres. 9,701 tons; cattle, 
valued at $216,000; horses, $504,000; mules, $55,000; swine, $134,000; 
sheep, $17,000; poultry, $45,600; colonies of bees, 762, value of bees, $2,943. 

In 1910 there were 1,355 farms in the county, and they were di\ided as 
follows: 347 from 50 to 100 acres; 335 from 100 to 174 acres; 148 from 
175 to 260 acres; 89 from 260 to 500 acres: 12 from 500 to 1,000 acres and 
two from 1,000 and over. 

The per cent, of land area in farms ninety-one and eight-tenths. 

Farm land improved, eighty per cent. Average number of acres per 
farm, 110.2. Value of farm property, $13,373,000. Average price per acre 
in county, $71.79; average in 1900 was $39.51. 

Among the first plows used in this and other counties in Indiana was 
the one called the "bull" plow. The stock, or wood-work, of these plows 
was generally made by the farmer himself. The handles were the butts of 
bushes, the crooked roots forming the hand-hold. The beam was hewed by 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 345 



hand from small, tough oak. The mold-boards were made from blocks of 
wood about twenty inches square and two inches to three inches thick. The 
inner or straight side of the mold-board was fastened to the handle and the 
outer surface was hewn out in an irregular shape. The wing of the share 
extended high uj) the mold-board. A loop of iron made the point. It took 
a good team, a strong man and twelve hours hard work to plow from one to 
one and a half acres with such a plow, says Smith in his history of Indiana. 

The harrow was made V shaped with wooden teeth, the whole made by 
the farmer himself. Wheat had to be harvested by a sickle, with which an 
expert could cut about three-fourths of an acre a day. In 1840, the Peacock 
plow was introduced, being named for its inventor. This implement enabled 
the farmer to plow much more than formerly and do better work. 

Corn ground was "laid off" both ways (no check-rowers and planters) ; 
the wife, son or daughter would drop the corn at the intersections, while the 
farmer w ould follow along with his hoe and properly cover the seed. Wheat, 
oats and barley were all sowed broadcast, by hand, from a sack swung over 
the neck and shoulders. Eut few men could be liired, and in fact it w as well, 
for the farmer had little with which to pay for help, could it have been ob- 
tained. Each family did their own farm work in those days. However, in 
har\est time, there were manv ro\ing bands of "grain cutters," who were ex- 
])erts with a sickle, who started in at the southern part of the state and worked 
north with the advancing har\est time. The best reapers could get thirty- 
se\en and a half cents per day and their board, or one bushel of wheat. It 
was not un.til 1840 that the grain cradle came into general use in this countrv. 
A good cradler could cut and shock about tw o acres a day, "l^etween sun and 
sun." Previous to 1840, grain was thresiied with a flail, or trod out bv 
horses. Two men could flail out twelve bushels a day and two men and 
horses could tramp out and winnow and separate the grain from the chaff, 
about twenty bushels a day. The winnowing and separating the grain from 
the chaff was done by hand sieves. The mixed chaff and grain was poured 
from above on the l>e(l sheet, while two men would \ ihrate the sheet so as to 
create a current of air, which would blow the chaff from the grain. The 
first threshing machine was introduced in 1839. With four horses and nine 
men, two hundred bushels of wheat could be threshed and cleaned in a da\'. 
The wheat had to go through a second cleaning process later on, before it 
was suited for the mill. It took three men two days to clean and tie ui) in 
sacks what would be threshed in one day. 

The scythe was the only grass mower for mnw ing meadows. A o-Qod 



& - 



346 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Strong man could generally cut from one to two acres a day, between day- 
light and dark. Tlie hand rake was then used to rake up the "cutting'' and 
it was then stacked by means of wooden forks. With a modern mowing 
machine, one man and his team can easily cut ten acres a day and, with a 
steel-toothed horse rake, he can gather it for stacking purposes in about the 
same time. The stacking is done now, usually, by a steel fork operated by 
a man with a horse or team. Before the introduction of improved machin- 
ery, about 1840, it took one man twenty-four days to plow, seed and harvest 
ten acres of wheat and forty- four days to plow, plant, cultivate and harvest 
ten acres of corn. 

The decrease in annual crops does not in the least indicate the decline 
in agricultural interests, but simply is made plain h}- stating that rotation 
of crops, and putting more land into pasture, at certain times, causes this 
fluctuation in figures in the reports given by the assessor to the department 
of agriculture. 

The fruit crops, one year with another, in \'ermillion county are good, 
and a paying proposition to the horticulturist. Apples, pears and peaches 
all do well, and many years the crop of pears has been indeed wonderful, 
both as to quality and quantity. Within three miles of Clinton, two years 
ago, there were raised a thousand bushels of choice pears, on one farm, w hich 
the following season had half that amount. All varieties of small fruits do 
well in this section of the state, and add much to the resources of the farm. 
While many vegetables are grown here, the farmer makes the major ]3art of 
his money from the production of corn and the stock that he raises and feeds 
for the markets of the world. ''The Wabash Bottoms" have been known 
since the first advent of white tillers of the rich soil, to be famous as a corn- 
growing section. 

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 

Naturally, a good farming county has good farm associations and agri- 
cultural societies, by which one farmer may see the manner in wliich his 
fellow-farmer produces crops. Xot nearly enough attention, however, is 
paid to this matter, and in consequence the farmer and business man sufifers 
loss. Whoever causes two blades of grass to grow where one grew before, 
or he who shows a corn raiser how to produce ten bushels of corn more per 
acre, is really and truly a great benefactor to the entire human race. Ver- 
million county was slow to realize the importance of organizing and keeping 
up annual fairs, and not until 1866, just after the close of the Civil war, was 
any attempt made to form an agricultural society. One \\as then formed 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 347 

ami continued to hold its annual exhibits at Xewpurt until i-S/tj, when, on 
account of the railroad running through the grounds of the society, public 
opinion so changed and interest \\as so slackened that it was practically 
abandoned. In 1880 a joint-stock company was organized, but that never 
materialized to any considerable extent. In 1887 two agricultural societies 
were organized, one, the \'ermillion County Fair Association, having its 
headquarters at Eugene, and another, the Vemiillion County Joint-Stock 
Society, with headquarters at the county seat, Newport. Both societies held 
fairs that year, but on account of the bad weather the one at Eugene was a 
dismal failure, while the one at Newi)ort had receipts amounting to two 
thousand two hundred dollars and e\er)- premium was paid in full. Two 
hundred and fifty stalls were occupied by horses and cattle. Steam water- 
works and reservoirs were used. No drunkenness or gambling was allowed 
on the grounds and all passed ofif as it should. Of later years the county 
fairs ha\e been allowed to run down and none are now held — and it is to be 
regretted, too. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



THE COAL MINING INDUSTRY. 



Aside from agriculture, the greatest source of annual revenue to the 
citizens of Xermilhon county are its coal mines, which are very extensive 
and prolific of much output, returning a large revenue to the operators and 
people in general, who reap from the immense shipments of the best grade 
of bituminous coal found in the state. As large as the mining interest is 
already, it has been estimated by experts in coal lands, and by geologists, 
that the zenith of its de\elopment will not have been reached for another 
quarter of a century. The six principal coal mining companies are oper- 
ating nearl}- a score of separate mines, and are employing upwards of three 
thousand men. One of the largest and most thoroughly modern, up-to-date 
collieries in the United States is located near Clinton, the Bunsen Coal Com- 
pany, a subsidiary of the United States Steel Corporation. More than three 
and one-half million dollars are in\'ested in this one plant for mining soft 
coal. When one contemplates the fact that the coal measure of the United 
States is limited to a few states, and to a small portion of these few states, 
and that more than ninety million people are depending largely on these coal 
mines for their fuel, both for domestic and manufacturing purposes, it will 
be better understood what a prize Vermillion county has locked up within 
her hills and valleys. The subjoined table will show the production of coal 
in \'ermillion county, as contrasted with the other great coal-bearing counties 
of Indiana, in 1910. as per the state reports. Of the total number of tons, 
there were 17,429,785 tons of bituminous and 875.459 tons of block coal. 
.\ccom|)an\ing the item of production, this table also shows the wages i)aid. 

County. Tons Produced. Wages Paid. 

Sullivan _ 4.339.173 $ 3.703.I-22 

Vigo 4,116,981 3,612,856 

Greene 3.241,690 2,532,927 

Vermillion 1,676,281 1,446,481 

Knox 1,045.868 720,091 

Clay 948,402 1.064,757 

Parke j'2j,y2y 780,260 



PARKK AM) \ IKMII.I.IOX COUXTIKS, INDIANA. 349 

Warrick 701.390 $ 559,108 

Pike 599.9.S2 485.978 

\'anderburg 3^9.98/ -9.>534 

Gibson 285,101 255.286 

Daviess 72,692 70.986 

Total 18.125.244 $15,527,390 

An early account of the development of the coal industry in Vermillion 
county reads as follows, the same havinj^' lieen compiled in 1887: "The Nor- 
ton Creek coal mines are located on the line between Clinton and ilelt town- 
ships, on section 5 of Clinton township and section 32 of Helt township. Their 
development commenced in the month of Deceml>er, 1884. F. A. Bowen was 
the proprietor and Charles P. Walker, of Clinton, tiie sii])erintendent and 
manager. In the spring of 1885. under the genera! laws of Wisconsin, the 
'Norton Creek Coal Mining Companx" was organized, xvith a paid-up capital 
of $40,000, with its general offices at Milwaukee. Wisconsin, il. M. Benja- 
min, of that city, is the president of the company, and Charles P. Walker, of 
Clinton, Indiana, superintendent and treasurer, and general agent for Indiana. 
Connected with the property are two hundred and fifty-five acres of land. The 
mines are al)OUt two and one-half miles west of the Eastern Illinois Railroad 
and connected by a spur track. The company also owns the old ilriar Hill 
mines, on section 9, Clinton township, but they are not now being w orked. 

"On the southeast portion of section 5 is located the company's large 
mercantile establishment and local offices, which, with twenty-seven tene- 
ment houses, constitutes quite a \illage, called Cieneva. named in honor of a 
daughter of Superintendent Walker. The sales of coal in 1886 reached 
$160,000. and the mercantile establishment $42,000. Near the mines are 
several tenement houses, and at the Briar Hill mines eleven houses. All are 
occupied l)v emjiloyes of the company. The business is increasing, owing to 
the excellent quality of coal produced. Commencing with the winter of 1887- 
88 an average working force of three hundred men are employed.'" 

Great had been the change by 1910, when the state reports show that 
1.042 miners were emjiloyed in this county, who were using the pick in min- 
ing l>ituminous coal; received $829,000 wages, or $f)j2 average per man dur- 
ing the year named. Then besides these men there were 286 miners engaged 
in bituminous "machine mines." receiving $228,400 per year. 

The state reprjrts of two years ago — 1910 — exhibit the following facts 
concerning tile mines in operation in \"ormilli(in C()unt\': 



350 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Name of Mine. Tons Produced. Wages Paid. 

Bering No. 8 276,143 $ 227,543 

Eureka 2,763 2,620 

Crown Hill No. i 269,241 239,691 

Crown Hill No. 2 244,533 208,682 

Maple Valley' 37,7^4 34-826 

Buckeye No. 2 236,874 203,687 

Klondyke 266,628 203,721 

Crown Hill No. 3 244,284 230,310 

Crown Hill No. 4 18,926 20,850 

Oak Hill 7.050 74-470 



Totals 1.604,026 $1,446,000 

AVERAGE WAGES OF EMPLOYES. 

The wages paid here are about in keeping with the average in Indiana, 
of which the state reports two years ago said : "The total wages reported 
from the bituminous field being $14,318,196.12, shows an average of $741.87 
fur each bituminous mine employe, and the total wages paid to bluck coal 
minors being $1,209,194.60, shows an a\erage earning of $646.27 for each 
block coal employe; the aggregate wages for the state being $15,527,390.72 
and the total number of em])loyes in the state 21,171, shows an a\erage earn- 
ing of $733.42 for each mine employe in the state." 

MARKET PRICES FOR COAL. 

The following were the approximate prices received for the Indiana coal 
product in 1910, according to the last obtainable official reports: The market 
prices for bituminous coal during the period from January to April i (except 
yearly contracts) ranged from $1.15 to $1.75 per ton for mine run, free on 
board cars at the mine, the highest prices pre\ailing during the month of 
March. More coal was produced in this month than either of the two months 
preceding; Si. 40 would probably be a fair a\erage selling price for this i>eriod. 
From May to October i prices ranged from $2.50 down to $1.35; but a fair 
average for that period would be $1.95 per ton. From October to January i 
prices fluctuated, ranging from $1.35 to $1.50 and as low as $1.15; $1.35 
would be a fair average for this period, or a ])roljable average of $1.60 per 
ton for bituminous coal (mine run) for the vear. Market iirices for block 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 351 

coal ranged from $J.-'5 to $3.-35 per ton at the mines, ^^-/^ being a fair aver- 
age for the year. 

The cost of production from the bituminous fields of Indiana was figured 
a fraction in excess of eighty-three cents per ton for the labor cost for the total 
output of hiuiminous coal. The total wages for the block coal field was $1,209,- 
194, or a fraction over $1.38 per ton for labor cost of production of block 
coal. 

In rexiewing the mining industry for Indiana for the year of 1910, a 
gratifying condition of affairs was disclosed in many branches of this im- 
portant industry. A larger increase in the production of coal, stronger and 
steadier market demands, a higher average selling price for all grades of coal, 
the highest average wage earned by mine employes, fewer strikes and a much 
larger tonnage per each fatal, permanent or serious accident to mine employees 
are shown than in any preceding year in the history of the state. In 1910 
the production was 18,125,244 short tons, an increase of a fraction over 
thirty-two per cent, over 1909, the highest previous year in coal production 
in Indiana. 

A certain per cent, of this increase came from every county in the 
state, except Fountain and Perry counties, with one mine in each, which w ere 
idle or working less than ten men. The largest increase came from \^ermil- 
lion. \^igo and Sullixan counties, and w-as produced by machine mines. Sul- 
livan county, with 1,539,000 tons, showed the largest increase of all tlie coun- 
ties, while Knox and Vermillion were not far behind, 

DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRODUCT. 

Of the bituminous coal output in the state in 1910, 7,968,732 tons were 
consumed in. Indiana and 9,281,048 were shipped to other states, and of the 
block coal, 266,918 tons were consumed in Indiana and 608.541 tons shipped 
to other states, or a fraction over fifty-four per cent, of the entire production 
shipped to iither states. 

VERMILLION COUNTV MINES, I9IO. 

The following table gives the name, owners, the geological numlier of 
the different coal seams, character, thickness of seam and (lci)th over overlving 
strata, of the mines being operated in \'ermillion connt\- in ujio: 



352 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Geographical 

Name of Company. Xame of Mine. No. Thickness. Depth. 

Brazil Block Dering No. 8 IV 5 Ft. 3 In. 200 Ft. 

Silverwood ^Eureka M 4 Ft. 6 In. no Ft. 

Clinton Coal Co Crown Hill No. i-_ V 4 Ft. 10 In. 165 Ft. 

Clinton Coal Co Crown Hill No. 2-_ V 4 Ft. 10 In. 155 Ft. 

Clinton Coal Co Crown Hill No. 3— HI 6 Ft. 345 Ft. 

Clinton Coal Co Crown Hill No. 4— IV 4 Ft. 6 In. 249 Ft. 

Clinton Coal Co.-__Crown Hill No. S-_ V 5 Ft. 182 Ft. 

Oak Hill Coal Co.— Oak Hill No. sO— - V 4 Ft. 10 In. 37 Ft. 

Oak Hill Coal Co.— Maple Valley V 5 Ft. 6 In. 225 Ft. 

Oak Hill Coal Co.— Buckeve No. 2 V 4 Ft. 8 In. 149 Ft. 

Oak Hill Coal Co.- -Klondyke III 7 Ft. 300 Ft. 

The only fatal accident reported to the state in 1910 was that of an 

Italian named Tomso Carlevatto, aged thirty-four years, killed by a falling 
boulder. a1 Crown Hill No. i, on March 7, igio. 

NEW MINE.S. , 

In U)io there were two new mines opened and their first shipments of 
coal were made in the early days of December of that year. These mines are 
Crown Hill No. 4 and 5, both owned and operated by the Clinton Coal Com- 
pany. No. 4 is located on the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 29, township 14, range 9. in Clinton township: No. 5 is located on the 
southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 24. township 14, range 
10, Clinton township. No. 4 mine is a machine mine, while No. 5 is a hand 
producing mine, both bituminous coal, running from four feet six inches to 
ti\ c feet in thickness of vein. 

MINERS A.N'D APPLIANCES. 

The state reports give in 1910 the following concerning the miners and 
appliances with which they work in getting out the \'ast tonnage of coal : 

Total Men 

employed. Mules Used. • Powder Used. 

Dering No. 8 298 23 1 1 .460 pounds. 

Eureka 18 3 87 pounds. 

Crown Hill No. i 290 16 18.238 pounds. 

Crown Hill No. 2 244 17 17,529 pounds. 

Maple Valley 95 4 2,448 pounds. 

Buckeye No. 2 225 28 14-95.2 pounds. 

Klondyke 217 15 13-291 pounds. 

Totals 1-387 106 84.010 pounds. 



PARKE AND VERMIIJ.ION COUNTIES, IXDIANA, 353 

IIIK LAST AND LARGEST M 1 X ICS. 

The most extensive coal mines within tlic count), or state, are the ])i'0|j- 
ert\- oi the Bunsen Coal Lonipans', which corporation opened their works in 
tlie month of Octoher, 191 1. on section ,^i. townshi]) 14. range i> west. The 
president of the company is T. II. Lynch: the secret.'iry ami treasnrer, W. S. 
W'ardiey ; the .general supermtendent. C l'. Lynch, and the superintendent, 
Charles Karral. The present machinist is George iMnnigan. These mines 
are about six miles to the southwest of the city of Clinton. Three hundred 
and iwent\- men are now cmplo\e<l at the works, which are constanth- de- 
veloping and widening out. Twentv-six mules are used under the ground lor 
drawing the cars to the shaft opening, from which it is hoisted by powerful, 
modern machinery to the surface and then dumped into the waiting coal cars 
of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, which line transjjorts most of the 
product to South Chicago. More than three and one-half million tlollars ha\e 
been iinested in this plant, which now consists of L'nixersal Mine Xo. 4. 
which is one hundred and sixty-ti\e feet beneath the surface, and has a \ein 
of four feet and eleven inches in thickness; Cnixersal Mine Xo. 3. two hun- 
dred and thirty-six feet deep, with a vein thickness of four feet ten inches. 
These mines bear tlie geological numbers of fcjur and h\e. 

The outi)ut in December, m^ij. was averaging about eighteen hundred 
tons ])er day. and it is expected that soon the two mines, which are \er\- near 
one another, will have a daily out])ut of three thousand three hundred tons 
daih. The motto of this ccMiipanx- is "Safety, the I'irst Consiileration." The 
scientific care exercised about these immense coa!-])roducing mines is indeed 
wonderful, even to the casual obser\er. I'.n er\ ai)])liance of safety, con- 
venience and comfort is given the miners. The buildings consist of seventeen 
residences for the use of the officers and sui)erintendents ; the offices, power 
house, bath house, fan houses, boiler house, blacksmith shops, granary, mule 
barns, su])ply house, two tipjiles and two engine rooms. The bath house, as 
well as all other buildings around the plant prt:)per, is constructed of cement 
and is fire ])roof. The bath house is built on modern plans for miners. Here 
are afforded hot and cold water, the year round. Here the miners and other 
hel])ers go and rcmo\ing their good clothes, put on their rough w orking suits. 
the suits not in use being suspended high up in the spacious bath house, fast- 
ened by a strong chain and lock, the key being carried by the miners, so noth- 
ing can be stolen, even to money in the pockets, as all are hung high up to the 
ceiling and no one but the owner can get them dow n. I 'pon coming from the 
(23) 



354 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

mine the men go at once, if they clioose, to this bath room, and there take a 
wash and shower bath before piittin.a; on tlieir better suits, when they come 
forth not looking like ordinar)- miners, but neat and clean. One hundred and 
sixty-five miners, in December, 19 12, were availing themselves of the free use 
of this bath house. The owners and managers of this plant have profited by 
the experience of the past methods employed in coal mining, and bettered 
every condition as far as safety and comfort is concerned, that is possible, 
under present conditions and knowledge. A high class of men are employe"' 
From oiificers down, the mines are run b}- men of intelligence and sobriety. 

At the site of the mines has been located a village, in which there are 
aireadv numerous business houses and a postoffice called Universal, whicii was 
established in October, iqi2. The coal compan)- has no interest in this vil- 
lage, its site or business interests. They do not conduct the usual "mine 
store," out of which so much dissatisfaction has come in other mining places. 
Less than two vears ago there was not a house on the present site of Bunsen ; 
it has grown like magic and is destined to grow rapidly as the development 
of the mines increases. It may be arkled that both "hand" and "machine" 
mines are operated — Universal No. 4 is machine, while No. 5 is hand mined 
coal. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

MISCELL.\NEOUS TOPICS. 

Herein are tn lie foiuul \arii>us items and tojiics not. sufficient in length 
to form a separate cliapter, Imt wliieli are replete with interest and xaluable 
facts concerniiig the county's history. 

THi; OLD INDIANA IKON FIJUXACE. 

F.\er\- section cif the cmmtrv that has been settled In' ci\ili/,eil peop'e for 
a centur\- nr more has. strewn along at \'arious points within its territory, 
some interesting landmarks of enterprises once of great \alue and importance 
to the community, but which have long since gone to decay and can only be 
traced b)' the traditions of men and a few material ol)jects. such as rusted-out 
m.achiiKMA-. an old water-wheel, a spindle, a shaft or some tumble-down struc- 
ture in which once was heard the hum of swiftly mo\ing machinery. .\11 is 
n(n\ silent. sa\'e the memory of some old man or woman who perchance re- 
calls those pioneer days and delights in telling the present generation of those 
days w-hen life was acti\-e and earnest to him and his companions. 

In 1839 what was styled the "Indiana Furnace"' in Clinton township, this 
county, was in full l)last. It w as the result of the discovery of i)aying fpiantities 
of iron ore within the community, and it grew to be among the most extensixe 
indu^'tries in the Wabash xalley. Here ]irobably was produced the first pig- 
iron in Indiana. Geologists inform us. however, that the principal iron ore 
found in this countv is an impure carbonate, occurring in nodtiles and irre- 
gular layers or bands. These nodules once supplied the material for the fur- 
nace on Brouillet's creek, where they yielded thirty-three per cent, of iron. 
The ore in Vermillion county is said to range from twenty-fiye to forty-five 
per cent, of iron. .Mong in the eighties there was discovered in the Norton 
creek bottoms, near the head of Kelt's prairie, a bed of bog iron ore. said to 
be three feet thick and covering an area of from six to eight acres. This. 
however, has never been de\eloped. 

The opening of the iron mines in Clinton township, in 18^7. was the 
commencement of the iron industry here. The old Indiana I-'urnace was in 
section 27, township 14, range 10. Stephen R. Uncles was the chief owner 



356 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and superintendent. Associated \\ ith him were Hugh Stuart and Chester 
Clark, the firm being Uncles & Company. Years later the land and iron works 
passed into the hands of Stuart & Sprague, and still later to K. M. Bruce & 
Company, the "company" being Da\ id Stinton. 

In iS5<) (ieorge B. Sparks, of Clinton, bought a contrijlling interest and, 
under the linn name of C. P>. Sparks & Company, tlie liusiness was continued 
until i8()4. Quite a \ illage of caJjins for the use of the workmen, and large 
compan}- supply store, with shops and other Ijuildings, might have greeted 
the eye of the traveler away back in the thirties and forties, when this was 
looked upon as a new countr)'. Here the iron ore was cast into "pigs," then 
re-cast into many kinds of castings, such as mill machinery, and especially 
into sto\es, which, were then just coming into general use as a household 
necessity. From these furnaces went forth thousands of tons of castings 
and pig iron, into the markets of the central West. Many a boat on the Wa- 
bash was freighted with the ])roducts of this furnace and foimdrv. Mere 
many found employment at good wages. The ninney tlnis ])aid out freely 
circulated in the neighborhoot] and made times quite li\el}'. Tliei'e were 
T.700 acres of land connected with the furnaces, and all was owned in 1887 
by George B. Sparks, who used the greater portion of it for agricultural pur- 
poses. Even at that date there was nothing to remind one of the once smok- 
ing, flaming, consuming fires of the Indiana Furnace and the little ham!et 
that stood near the dingy plant, sa\ e a few cabins, almost ruined bv decay, 
and here and there a piece of machinery hea\il\- coated with the rust of 
years. The fires had long since liecn (|uenched. because of nx)re improved 
methods, a better grade of iron ore. and more modern facilities, those which 
were ushered in with the true "Iron Age" that commenced at the clo.se of the 
Civil war. 

There are still a few persons li\ ing in tlie count\- who rememl)er tlie l)usv 
spot known as the "Furnaces," and recall the long string of teams employed 
in drawing the ore from the mines and in C(^nve\-ing the manufactured metal, 
in "pigs" and in stove-plate and cooking utensils, to the waiting flat-boats on 
the banks of the near-by Wabash. The iron industrv was of short duration 
as compared to that of coal mining, which is now the great king of \'ermil!ion 
county industries. 

From a recent history of Indiana, liy Smith, we quote the follow ing con- 
cerning the early iron industry : "Limonite or bog-iron ores are found in 
many Indiana counties, including \'ermillion. Experience has proven that 
these ores are too silicious to compete with the rich beds of hermatite of Mis- 
souri, Tennessee and Georgia. As a proof of this it is only necessary to state 



PARKE AND \ERM I i.l.IOX rOl'NTI KS, INDIAXA. 357 

that of fourteen l)last-furn;ices which ha\e l)een erected in Indiana in the 
past, not one is now in o])eration and most ni them ha\e long since hcen in 
rnin and <lcca\ . 'idie last furnace went out nf ])usiness in iS()3.'" 

POI.ITICAI. AX I) Rr,KL"TI().\ RKIIKXS. 

W hile it is not the proxince of this work to go into the details uf the 
])olitical history of \'erniillioii county, which has, in common with other 
counties of Indiana, heen one fraui,;"ht with man\' interesting e\'ents. it must 
here suffice to siinpl\- refer incidentalK- to the political com])lexion of the 
county, as found in the presidential election returns. 

At an earh- day there was a good sprinkling of the W hi,g party element 
within X'ermillion county and from this sjiran.g the Republicans of a later era, 
whicli element is now ver\- stron.g. In and near the village of I'errysxille, 
in 1844. the ^^d^igs were strong as a pan\- and In slmw their entliusiasm the 
following little instrument is introduced to the reader : 

"Perrysville, Ind., July lo. 1S44. 
■'Dr. K. M. Waterman, Lodi : 

"Res])ected Sir: Owing to the ])olitical excitement i)f the times, and to 
the ex])ecte(l \-isit of Mr. R, W. Thumpson to our jilace on next h>ida\-. with 
all creation besides, we have hcen induced to ask \-ou to fax'or the Whigs of 
this place with the loan of your cannon for Friday next, ^^'e wish to put a 
stop to the noise of this little loco-foco pocketpiece w ith a few rounds from 
a Whig gun. 

"Yours, etc.. 

"'Thoiu.-is II. Smith. Barnes, John Kirkpatrick, l)a\id llulick. |ame^ 

Blair, r,. II. I'.oyd. M. Gookins. C. R. Jewctt, U. Haven, W. II. I'.mwn, Jo.seph 
Cheadle. W". P.. Moffatt. J. S. Baxter. R. J. ( iessie S. r.arnes, .\. Hill. C. V. 
McNeill. Jacob Sherfy. Austin Bishop. J. S. Stephens. B. R. Howe, John R. 
McNeill. :\. Dennis, G. H. McNeill." ' 

.\i the commencement of the L'i\il war. \ ermillion c<iunt\' was .about 
evenly divided as to Dcnidcr.ats and Republicans, but forttmateb di<l nut have 
a large number of the "stay-at-home striije" in either ])arty. hence the few 
"Copperheads" did not dare make as much disturbance as in manv parts of 
the Iloosier state. Lincoln was elected and \'crmillion county ga\c him 
about as many votes as the oiiposition parly Iiad. The presidential vote 



358 PARKE AND VERMILLION CDUNTIES. INDIANA. 

since tlie (_"i\'il war closed. liei;innini^' with the election of (ien. L'. S. ( ivant in 
1868. hns l>een as follows: 

i8f„S — U. S. Grant (R) m;ij__ 457 i8(/) — \\'illiani AlcKinley (Rl.i.jSi 

Horatio Seymour (D)-- William J. Bryan (D)--2.i3i 

1872 — U. S. Grant (R), maj-- 750 1900 — William McKinley (R) .2.293 

Horace Greeley (Lib.)- \\'illiam J. Bryan (D)-_i.767 

1876 — R. r>. Hayes (R) 1,358 Joshua Levering (Pro.)- 107 

Samuel J. Tilden (n)__i,ii4 1904 — Theo. Roosevelt (R) ^.724 

i88c — Gen. James .\. (larfield Alton 15. Parker fD)-_ 1,437 

(R) 1.562 Swallow (Pro.) 328 

W. S. Hancock (H) 1.235 Watson (Peoples) 29 

James B. Weaver (G) 149 i<)o8 — William Howard Taft 

John W. Phelps (Nat.)- i (R) 2.502 

1884 — James G. Blaine (R)___i.59i ^^'illiam J. Bryan (D)__i,8i2 

Gro\cr Cle\-cland (n)__i.320 Eugene \'. Debs (Soc.)- 407 

1888 — Benjamin Harrison (R)i,729 E. W. C'hafin (Pro.) 217 

(irover Cleveland ( D) 1,448 1912 — William Howard Taft 

C. B. Fisk (Pro.) Sj (R) 1,621 

iS'02 — P)enjamin Harrison (R). 1,709 \\'oodro\\ Wilson (D)_i,78o 

Grover Cleveland (D)__i.428 Theo. Roosevelt (Pro.) 680 

Bidwell (pro.) 81 E. \'. Debs (Soc.) 550 

Jas. B. Weaver (Peo.)— 189 

THE G.VTHERING STORM. 



The files of the Saturday .-liu/iis. of Clinton, published bv- L. O. Bishop, 
in June. ii;iT, contained the interesting reminiscence of fifty years ago in 
Clinton and \'ermillion county, and, bearing on the political issues of those 
days, it is here quoted as follows : 

"Perhaps in the minds of the younger readers of these memories will 
arise the question, Why. in view of the fact that Clinton was so far from 
the slave country, and a part of the North, was there such a powerful jiro- 
sla\er\- sentiment here? Allow me to digress from the main line of m 
story to answer this question. It must l)e borne in mind that at that time in 
which 1 write of Clinton, it had but one door open to the commerce of the 
world, and that was south \ia the Wabash. Ohio, Mississippi rivers. New 
Orleans was our great clearing house. It was no uncommon sight to see a 
fleet of Hat-boats tied u]) along the river front in those days, unloading 
sugar, cofifee, tobacco, rice, drv goods and tons of other manufactured goods 



PARKE ;\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 359 

and ciiinmi)(Iiii(.'s and takini^' mi cnni and wheal and pork for tlu S intli. 
These flat boats were operated b\' hand. And it i'ei|uired several nmntli.-- In 
make a ronnd trip. The stories of ri^-er ad\entnre and frolic and tragedy, 
if w ritten, wonld make np some of the richest reading matter to be fonnd in 
any literatnre. lUil it was commerciab'sni that readied out from the great 
slave market and sent its poison up through the natural arteries of the physi- 
cal country and thus stupefied and held captive for years the niinil. the heart 
and conscience of the people until such prophets as Owen Loxejov and John 
Brown and William Llo_\(l (iarrison, like John the r>a|)tist, came cr_\ing 
through the wilderness, 'Awake! repent, and throw off the horrid s])ell.' 

"The only competitor this ri\er ever had was the Wabash &• b'rie canal, 
which then extended up from Evansville, somewdiat parallel with the Wa- 
bash ri\er, \ia Terre Haute. Lafa\ette to Toledo. Over this slow and tedious 
route a considerable commerce was conducted until the early sixties, when 
the absence of labor at home practically put it out of business. But there is 
in this connection a fundamental fact that cannot be too strongly emphasized 
and applied to the problems of today, and that is this: L'nrestricted control 
and use of the means of communication and transportation is a source of 
strength that is absolutely indispensable to the welfare of the people. So 
when this struggle came on the people of Clinton found themsehes at one 
einl of a rix'cr which ran at the other end to the \-er\- heart of the slave 
country, and was controlled by the slave power a'ong e\erv inch of its tor- 
tuous route from St. Louis to the Gulf of Mexico. Thus our commerce was 
bottled up and the stopper was in the South. Clinton felt this condition. It 
affected all classes. The sla\e power had many and effective agents at \vork 
all through this part of the country. Among them, preachers like Parson 
Brownlow . The only other outlet was to the north by wagon route to Chi- 
cago, and it was far more uncertain and expensive than was the easy flat 
l)oat ride down stream to New Orleans. \Vhen one closely understands how- 
strong was this commercial bond between the South and the middle West 
through the medium of these great rivers then it will be seen that the West 
made a greater sacrifice than any other part of the country, for the Eastern 
states had their railroads to the seaboard and then all the, world beyond as a 
field o\-er wdiich to roam for trade. And then, again, population was sparse. 

"The [lopulation of Clinton in i860 was not over two hundred and fifty. 
As late as 1865 men u.sed to sit in Jolinn\- Rh_\aii's little old shoe shop and 
take a complete census of every man, w oiiian, child, horse, cow, jack, chicken, 
dog and cat. .\nd when they had taken the census, how thev used to swell 
up with pride, ami exclaim, "See how we have grown in ten \ears.' 



360 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

"That niy estimate was correct was slmwn Fridax" 1)\' J. H. Bo!.;art. w lie 
in less tlian ten minutes' time recalled and named ever^• faniih'. store, ware- 
house and shop in Clinton in 1861. N^ot nnl\- is this teat remarkable for 
memory, and shows how men ])reser\'e their line mental powers. includiu.L; 
that of memory, but it shows the rapidit\- with wliich Clinton has j^rown. 
Just think of it. Here is a town of only two hundred and fift\- in i8C>i. 
whereas today ( icjii ) the place has reached se\en thousand, and instead of 
thirty-fi\e l)locks, today co\ers over a stjuarc mile. 

"By i860 public sentiment throughout the North began to assume con- 
crete form. It forced from unwilling lips defense of the truth. It crushed 
the wornout old Whig party and threw it into the political scrap-heap as a 
wreck, It split the sla\e-ruled jiarty and sh(i\ed int') the breach the \irilc. 
alert, wed.ge of the newly-born Republican ])arty and when the memorable 
campaign of 1858 came on there was such a tremendous widespread activity 
as was never before witnessed on an\- continent. If it be true that 'coming 
ex'ents cast their shadows liefore.' then certainl}- the cam])aigns of 1858-60 
clearly forecast the struggle that was to Imrst upon the country a \'ear later. 
That summer and fall were given over to politics. Nothing else was dis- 
cussed. 

"The demonstration that greeted Linctjln on that occasion has, so far 
as 1 recall. ne\'er been equalled in the l)order line n\ the two states of Indiana 
and Illinois. 

"The Clinton delegation started with a strong caxalcaile (if mounted 
young wunien and men. ( )thers went in gavlv decoratdl wagons and others in 
carriages. Like an aAa'anche, it swept on across the township, gathering to 
itself large delegations all along the way. .\t the same time, from all the 
country surrounding Paris other delegations were moving on tnwarcl a center 
and when Mr. Lincoln arose to sjieak he was greeted b_\- a sea of eager faces 
that covered se\'eral acres, solidiv standing. That ])rocession is to this (kw 
the talk of the older men and women who remember it. 

"The cam]5aign of i860 was a fiu-ious cam])aign. Xo secret ballot then. 
E\'ery voter in Clinton township had to come to town to \dte and election 
day participated in it to the last hour. The young, humane Democratic Re- 
publican party took the township and sent the word to Lincoln that so far as 
this ri\-er town was concerned it would stand for a united counlrv. But our 
town paid a terrific ])rice for its rejection of the tempter. And the debt is 
not ])aid yet. Little apparently do the ])eople of todav seem to realize the 
awful cost it has taken in times past to maintain liberty and guarantee prog- 
ress. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 361 

"So it was that luuler siuli tlin'lK anil stress in\- earliest days swiftly 
passed. .And one day father came home in a <^reat hurry from u]) town. His 
face was ])ale and his A-oice trembled. .Someone asked him. 'Why. I*'rank, 
what on earth is the matter?' 'hdrt Sumter has been fired on.' he huskily 
replied, ;uid on he went to spread the ;iw ful. ominous news. Just then 
another one came past and corroborated the news. It seems as though ill 
news of great importance spreads as if bv magic. It was true in this case. 
.\11 Clinton was on the streets in a few moments after the news of the P^ort 
Sumter afifair arri\ed. Excitement was at fe\er pitch, ("hurch bells were 
rung, crowds were addressed by impromptu s])eakers, and the children caught 
the fever and could hardly be kept in school. 

"The next thing we knew. President Lincoln had issued an a])])eal for 
se\'ent\-fi\e thousand men, and then the real seriousness of the crisis cruue 
rolling in with a rush to e\er.\- home." 

IM.\RKET UlOT.VriONS. 

The cpiestion of high and low tariff has ,alwa\s been one of interest to 
the political parties of this countrw and in H)io the arguments put forth in 
favor of the higher tarifY, and the denial that the tariff made higher cost of 
living, wa.s put forth in the Hoosier Stale, published at Newport, this county, 
in the following list of articles, Iiased on what ten bushels of wheat would 
ha\e ])urchased in i8(/i, under low rales of tariff ("tariff for revenue onlv'') 
and under the Republican rule and higher tariff of the administration of the 
last named ]iolitical party. The list is as follows: 

In 1896 ten bushels of wheat bought forty-se\en ])oiinds of coffee; in 
1910 it bought one hundred and thirty-four pounds. 

In 1896 ten Inishels of wheat liought one hundred and twenty-three 
pounds of rice: in 1910 it bought two hundred and thirteen pounds. 

In 1896 ten bushels of wheat bought nine barrels of salt; in 1910 it 
bought thirteen barrels. 

In 1896 ten bushels of wheat bought one hundred and thirt\-t\vo pounds 
of granulated sugar; in 1910 it bought two hundred and forty-nine pounds. 

In 1896 ten bushels of wheat bought twenty-five pounds of tea; in 1910 
it bought forty-nine |)ounds. 

In 1896 ten bushels of wheat bought one hundred and twentv-three 
yards of gingham; in 1910 it Ixjught one hundred and sixty-nine vards. 

In 1896 ten bushels of wheat bought two pairs of men's kip .shoes and 



362 PARKE AND VERMII.r.IOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

left a balance of $1.47: in 1910 it bought four pairs of the same kind of 
slioes anil left a balance of S1.81. 

In 1896 ten bushels of wheat bought sixty-nine bushels of bituminous 
coal: in 1910 it bought one hundred and ten bushels of coal. 

In 1896 ten bushels of wheat bought fifty-seven gallons of coal oil; in 
1910 it bought one hundred and one gallons. 

In 1896 ten bushels of wheat bought two hundred and ten pounds of 
nails: in 1910 it bought six hundred and forty-one pounds. 

In 1896 the government was operating under the low tariff legislation 
of President Cleveland's administration: in 1910 the go\ernment was ad- 
ministered under the Payne-Aldrich tariff list of the Republican party ad- 
ministration, as established by the McKinley bill, and upon which issue 
President McKinley had been elected to office. 

In the month of December, 1912, the following were the general prices 
at retail for the commodities named: Flour. $3.00 per hundred: corn, per 
bushel, 55 cents: wheat. 97 cents: potatoes, y^ cents: coal, per ton. $2.50; 
granulated sugar, per pound. 8 cents: coffee, from 2^ to 30 cents: butter. 35 
cents: eggs, per dozen, 35 cents: milk, 7 cents per quart: beans, $3.75 per 
bushel : apples, $2.90 per barrel : prints, per yard. 5 to 8 cents : sheeting, 8 to 
12 cents per yard : wool, per pound, 12 cents : common nails, 2 1-2 cents by the 
keg: coal oil, 15 cents; gasoline, 20 cents: hogs were worth S7.50 and western 
cattle. $6.30 per hundred, live weight. 

ORIGINAL VILLAGE PLATS. 

The following is a list of the original \illage plats of \'ermilli(in county, 
Indiana : 

Clinton was platted in section 15, township 14, range 9 west. Januar\- 8, 
1829, by Lewis P. Rodgers. 

Cayuga (first known as Eugene Junction | w as platted September 20, 
1827. by S. S. Collett. 

Dana, in section 26, township 16, range 10 west, bv Samuel and J. B. 
Aikman. Samuel B. Kaufman, and II. B. Hammond, the date being August 
18. 1874. 

Aha was platted May 18. 1871. in llelt township, by John T. Panton, 
John D. Johnson, James [McLaughlin. 

Fairview Park was platted by Charles W. Whitcomb (trustee) on the 
southwest quarter of section 3, township 14. range 9. August 16, 1902. 



I'ARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 363 

West C'lintuii jumtinn, ijlatlcd .\Ia\ 31. igi 1, \y\ il. .M. I'^crgusun. Sam- 
uel C. Stult/ and }Ieiirv C. Dies. 

Raiiij'evillc was ])latted SeptLMnber i''). i<)ii. on section 7, townshi]) 14. 
range 9 west. l)y the Clinton Coal Company. 

Geneva was platted, at least recorded, Decemlier _>S. 1900. liy the Tnrrev 
Coal L'om])any. in section 3. t(i\\n--lii]) 14. range (j west. 

Rhodes was platted on the southeast of section ^;^. township 14, range 9. 
by the Brazil Block Coal Company, December 11, 1903. 

Xeedmore was platted as a sub-di\ision, in section 34, townshi]) 14. 
range 9 west, on September 29, 1904, by the Indiana Fuel Compan\-. 

Centenarv was platted in sectinn 13. township 14, range 10 west. (Jctober 
19, 1910, by Joseph W. Amis (trustee). 

Chum's I-'ord was platted in sections 30 and 31. township 14, range 9 
west, ])v C (1. Wright (trustee), December 8, 1910. 

Universal was platted in the northeast quarter of section 31, township 
14, range 9 west, March, 191 1. 

Perrys\ille was platted in section 34, township 10. range 9, and in sec- 
tion 33, of same township and range. May 25, 1832, by James Blair. 

Gessie was platted in section 28, townshi]) i<). range 10 \vest, March 20, 
1S72, by R. J. Gessie. 

Rileysburg was platted in the southwest quarter of section 17. town- 
ship 19, range 10 west, June 4, 1904. by Sarah V.. Peterson and Richard C. 
Peterson. 

Newport was platted, or rather recorded as a \'illage, July 28. i(S2S. and 
re-platted and corrected up for record, March 8, 1837, by S. S. Collett: lo- 
cated in section 26, township 17, range 9 west. 

St. Bernice, platted in the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of 
section 28, township 15, range 10 west, .\ugust 18. 1905, by Alfred M. and 
Elizabeth J. Reed. 

Summit Grove, platted on sections 22 and 27,, township 15, range 9 
west, November 16, 1871, by Abraham H. Puy. 

Hillsdale was platted in section 2, township 15, range 9 west, November 
II, 1872, by I'.verlin Montgomery and Benjamin ¥. Maston. 

Highland was platted in section 2j. township 16, range 9 west, and the 
northeast cpiarter of the northwest quarter of section 34, same township and 
range, September 20, 1835, by Michael Gohmly. 

Jones was platted in Helt township, in section 34, township 15, range ir 
west, ])\' I'hillii) Irmcs, on Fcbruar\- 23, 1862. 



364 PARKE AND VERMII.T.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Springfield was platttd, or recortled as a \illage plat, October i. 1828. 
by James Burns. 

Solon was platted April _>, i83(), on the east half of the northwest quar- 
ter of section 2^, township 17, range 9 west. 

Trans\l\ania, platted in section 34, township 15, range 9 west, May 9, 
1832, by A. E. Sergent and G. Powers. 

Sheperdstown, platted by John Villarson, in the northeast quarter of 
section 7. township 19, range 10 west, and in section 6, same town and range, 
.\ugust 10. 1836. 

CEMETERIES OF THE COUNTY. 

Clintiiu cemetery, platted in section 10, township 14, range 9. by five 
trustees, December 22, i89f . 

Toronto cemetery, by five trustees, F. A'. Austin, \\'. F. Kerns. ]\I. 
Puffer, S. Jenks and Samuel Malone, No\ember 26, 1893; location, section 
1 I, tiiwnship 15, range 10 west. 

( )tlu'i' cemeteries jilatted ami recorded are the \'erinilli(in cemetery and 
the Thomas cemetery. 

Eugene cemetery, platted by trustees. L. T. Naylor, d. H. 1^'able. 'SI. G. 
Hosford. June 11. i8gi. in section 31. township 18. range () west. 

F)ales cemetery. ])latted bv trustees, A lav i. 1894, in section 36, township 
t6, range 10 west. 

TTopewell Friends cemetery. 

POPUI..\TION OF THE COX'XTY. 

In 1880, according to the United States census reports, Vermillion 
county had inhabitants as follows : 

Clinton township and towns. 3,000: Helt township and towns, 3,027; 
Vermillion township and towns. 2.215: Eugene township and towns, 1,340: 
Highland township and towns. 2,433: total in county. 12.015. 

PRESENT POPULATION. 

The last federal census gi\'es X'ermillion couut\- a population of 18.865. 
di\ided among the townshi])S and towns and cities as follows, that of 1900 
beint;' also noted : 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INIMANA. 365 

1 yoo. 1 y 1 o. 

Clinlon townslui) and cit_\' 5>'93 9-341 

t.'ity alone -2,918 6,289 

l'"airvie\v Park O80 

Eugene township and Cayuga 2,038 2,112 

L'a_\uga town 832 ()i 1 

licit township and Dana 3-799 3-S43 

Highland township -.133 1-845 

\'ermillion township and Newport 2.o8g 1 .<;74 

Newport alone 610 jt^z 

The total pui)ulatiou cjf this comity in 1870 was 10,840; in 1880 it had 
12,015; in 1899 it had 13,154; in 1900 it had 15,252; in 1910 it had 18,865. 

In 1910 there were sexenty-four persons to each square mile, in this 
county. The rural population was fifty to the square mile. 

The white population \\as 18,740 and the negro population 121. Native 
white ijopulation. 14.466: foreign-horn white population included these: 
From Austria, 342; Germany, 178: Hungary, 230: Italy. 811; Russia, 210; 
Scotland, 179; Ireland, 22. 

The county was divifled as to sex: 10,002 males, 8,863 females. 

The total of illiteracy was 300: per cent, of illiteracy, fi\e and two- 
tenths per cent, of population. 

Total between six and tw ent\" vears of age 5.423 : school attendance, 
3,614: number of dwellings, 4.347: number of families, 4.544. 

The citv of Clinton had, in 1000, 2,918 population: in 1910. it had 6,229: 
33 negroes: illiterate, 200: of school age, 1,692: attending school, 1,095: 
dwellings in city, 1,301 : families in city, 1,468. 

COUNTY SOCIETIES. 

ISesides the I ount\ Medical Societ)- mentioned elsewhere, this county 
had other im])ortant societies which, with the death and removal of their 
founders, went do\Mi. These included the Western Indiana Scientific Asso- 
ciation, founded bv the spirit and activit}' of that well-known man of New - 
])ort, William Cibson. and later of l'err\s\ille. who, in the summer of 1875, 
issued a call to his friends in science w ith a \ie\v of organizing a societw The 
first meeting met in .\ugust that x'car and --uch men atteiuled and look ]iart 
as Prof. P.. Rhoades, Wi'liam Gibson, M. L. jlall. William I.. Little, Jesse 
Moucliin, P. Z. .\iiderson and Samuel Groenendyke. .\l their next meeting 



366 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

the\- urganized what they were pleased to style "The Western Indiana His- 
torical and Scientitic .Vssociation." They adopted a constitution and by- 
laws for the purpose of "promoting disco\ery in geology, archaeology and 
other kindred sciences ; for our mutual improvement therein, and for the se- 
curing of a cabinet of natural histor_\- and a collection of minerals and fossils 
as \\\\\ illustrate the resources and wealth of \'ermilion county." The con- 
stitution was signed by John Collett. William L. Little, William Gibson. H. H. 
Conley, M. L. Hall. S. B. Davis. M. G. Rhoades. Jesse Houchin. W. C. 
Eichell)erger. Samuel (Iroenendyke, B. E. Rlioades and P. Z. Anderson. Mr. 
Collett was e'ected president; AT. (i. Rhoades. vice-president; ^^'illiam L. Lit- 
tle, treasurer; H. H. Conley. corresponding secretary; ]\1. L. Hall, recnrding 
secretary, and William Ciilison. librarian and curator. 

\^'ith the rcnio\al of l\lr. Cihson the moving. acti\'e s]iirit. after he bad 
succeeded in securing man\" items for the coHection and had them carefull}' 
stored awav in a neat, small btu'lding. the association ceased to exist, as is to 
be regretted bv all thinking people of the county. 

COl'NTV TEMPER.\NCE ORGANIZATION. 

.\ cnunt\ temperance organization was formed as a result of the "blue- 
ribbim" mo\ement. Februarv 16. 1882. at \ew])nrt. The meeting was called 
to order b\' Capt. R. B. Sears, of Newport, a member nf the state organiza- 
tion. Dr. E. T. Spotswood. of Perrysville. was temporary chairman, and E. 
H. Hayes, of Clinton, secretary. Vice-presidents were chosen from each of 
the fi\'e tow^nships in A'ermillion cnuntw ^Mrs. Emma ^Inlinw a noted teni- 
perance lecturer, was invited to make a can\-ass of the county. The consti- 
tution of the Grand Council was adopted. Resolutions called for none but 
out-and-out temperance men for the officers of the societv. Thc\' must a'so 
fa\'nr adopting resolutions to ^■ote for a probibitorv liiiuor law in Indiana. It 
is thought, bv some, that owinsf to its not being a religious or secret order, 
that it ^^-ent down before much sfood was accomplished. 

VERMILLION COfNTV POSTOFFICES. 

The facilities for receix'ing and sending mail matter in this count\- ha\e 
greatly changed for the l)etter with the passing of the decades since one man"s 
hat was the postoffice and mail was received "when convenient" from Dan- 
ville and Terre Haute, at two. or three places within the county. Tlie estab- 
lisliment of the free rural delivery of mails in the late eighties and nineties 



PARKE AND VERMII.IJON COUNTIES, INDIANA. 367 

bruughl mail} chaugcb in Lhc lucation of postufhccs throughoul the entire 
country, including this count). Jn i88S the otiices in \erinilhoii count)- were 
Hsted as follows : 

Clinton: St. Liernice, at Jonestown, in the nortiiwestern portion of Clin- 
ton township ; Summit Grove, on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad, in 
ilelt townsliip; Toronto, at or near Bono, Helt township, at the crossing of 
the two railroads of the county; Dana, in the northwestern part of Helt 
towiishij), iin the railroad running east and west through the county; New- 
port, the county seat; Quaker Hill, sometimes called "Quaker Point," eight 
miles west of Newport and in Vermillion township; Cayuga, in Eugene 
township, at the railroad crossings ; Eugene ; Perrysx'ille ; Gessie. on the 
railroad in the western portion of Highland township; Riley-sburg. on the 
same road two miles to the northwest of (iessie; Walnut (iro\e. Browntou, 
iligliland. Aha. ( )pee(lee were all hamlets and cross-roads, hut had no ])ost- 
1 ifiices. 

The following is a true list of the ]>ostoffices in the couiit\' in njt-: 
Cayuga. Charles Hosford. ])ostniaster ; Clinton, J. O. .Stark, postmaster ; 
Dana, Roy Turner, postmaster; Eugene; Gessie; Hillsdale, Margaret Mc- 
Cart\'. postmistress; Newport, M. B. Carter, postmaster; Perr\s\ille. Tnskie; 
Rileysburg; St. Bernice, Ed. McCann, postmaster; New St. Bemice (a rural 
station) ; I'niversal. John Marietta, postmaster. 

The postal savings department was introduced in ^^erm^llion countv in 
191 1, and in January. 1913. the parcel post system was installed in the county. 
All of these facilities give the persons residing distant from the towns and vil- 
lages almost an equal advantage enjoyed by the town dwellers of years ago. 
The fartner has his daily newspaper, with latest market reports and the iinpor- 
tant news of the entire world, brought to his door each forenoon. And if in 
need of some small article of merchandise, instead of going to town he can 
simply phone to his dealer and the mail carrier brings the article on his first 
trip out. the charges being merely nominal. \'^eri1y. the farmer is becoming 
more independent each year, and has of late just awakened to the fact that 
he is a potent political factor that must be reckoned with. 

POWDER MTI.I, EXPLOSION. 

Ma\" 4. igo4, at noon, the powder mill at Dorner, two miles southeast 
of Ne\v]iort. was blown up, four men being killed and many more injured. 
The scene of the disa.ster was in a little hollow leading of¥ from the main 
hollow w'hich runs east and west. There were at the time four hundred kegs 



368 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

uf powder, ul t\\eiit)-h\e pounds weiglit each, amounting to ten tliuusand 
pounds of damp blasting powder. Henry Griffin and DeSoto i3iggs, two of 
the unlucl-;) workmen, were blown literally to atoms. The combined weight 
of the two men was about three hundred pounds and only sixty pounds of 
scattered fragments of human remains could ever be gathered together. The 
other two killed were George and Berkley Mayhew, brothers. The woods 
caught hre from the terrible explosion and it took much hard hghting upon 
the part of the men present to extinguish the iiames before they reached the 
other side of the hill, where there was stored two hundred and fifty thousand 
pounds of powder in the magazines of the Dupont powder works. Only two 
of the fourteen buildings were destroyed. They were never rebuilt. An 
almost endless litigation ensued for damages upon the part of the deceased 
men's friends, some of whom compromised and received small amounts from 
the compam'. The explosion was heard at Terre Haute and Clinton. John 
Potts, who was on his fatlier"s farm a mile distant, was knocked down by 
the explosion. Twent\- window lights were broken from the county poor 
asylum; pieces of shafting of six hundred pounds weight were hurled a ha'f 
mile distant and ]5lanted in the earth. A spring ne\er before observed by 
man was started from out the hill at the glaze : twenty-fi\'e copperhead snakes 
that had not yet come forth from their winter f|uarters were stunned and 
afterward killed by the men who were searching for the liodies of the unfor- 
tunate workmen. 

DE.STRUCTIOX BY DVX^AMITERS. 

L'lintun and \icinit}- has been the scene of terrible d_\namiter's work, 
including the blowing up of the Catholic church and, a few months later, the 
partial destruction of the piers of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad 
bridge, at Clinton. The latter explosion was on April 19, 1910, when two 
explosions occvuTed. The shock was felt at Dana, Hillsdale and Terre 
Haute. The guilty ones were nexer captured, although there were large re- 
wards offered and expert detecti\es put into the case. The city ofifered one 
thousand dollars and the railroad company three thousand dollars. Blood- 
hounds were put into service, but all to no purpose. 

The partial destruction of the beautiful and massive Roman Catholic 
church at Clinton, supposed to ha\e been the work of someone not satisfied 
with the requirements and exactments upon the part of the priest in charge 
of the Clinton parish at the time, occurred in Novem])er. 1909. of which 
the Clinton Saturday Arpus had this to sav. editoriallv : 



PARKE AND VERMILLIUN COUXTIKS, INDIANA. 369 

"The new Sacred Ileait Runian Catholic church was partially wrecked 
at I 1 :45 Tuesday night by the explosion of three sticks of dynamite. The 
explosions were so terrilic that almost the entire windows were blown out of 
many of the houses in thai part of the city. ^V police force was at once sent 
tor by 'calls' and the night officers responded, but no trace could be found 
that afforded any clue to the deed. 

"The damage done will amount to over one thousand dollars, on which 
there is no insurance. Wednesday the city council met and voted to offer a 
thousand dollars reward for the arrest and conviction of the miscreants. 
Seventy-nine sticks of dynamite were found at the church on Wednesday 
morning, which had they gone off' would have destroyed at least the southern 
half of the city. A call has been made for a l^inkerton detective and no pains 
or expense will be spared to bring the guilty parties to justice." 

The same local paper said on December 3, 1909: 

"The deadly eft'ects of the recent attempt to blow up the Catholic church 
in this city are far more wide-reaching than the mere damage to the building, 
serious as it was. Owners of property in that vicinity now li\'e in constant 
dread and apprehension of still further disaster. Some families ha\c rented 
rooms down town where the\- can ha\e the benefit of police protection, day 
and night; others refuse to slee]) at liomo at night time. Others are oft'ering 
their ])roperty for sale. The Catholic authorities ha\'e emjiloyed guards for 
constant night jirotection. Father Maher has. it is reporteil. rcmowd from 
the citv and his former duties have been taken by another priest." 

I'p to thi.s writing. December, 1912, there has been no due to the jicrsons 
who performed this dastardly deed. 

.\ P.RrTAI, OI'TRACK. 

During the latter part of the night of October u, 1883, says the Jloosier 
Stale, published at Newport, a most brutab outrage was committed by a band 
of robbers uix)n Elias Lamb and their family at their residence, near Xew- 
port. In the house were Mr. Lamb and wife and a married daughter, from 
Wayne county, visiting them. Between three and four o'clock the dog made 
considerable noise. Mrs. Lamb went to the window to see what was the 
matter and hissed the dog, wdiich would only ])lunge out into the darkness 
and then retreat. Not discowring anything, siie retmned tn bed. but the dog 
kejit u]) a howling and acted as if someone was encroaching on the premises. 
Tn a few minutes Mr. Lamb went out to sec if he could discover anvthing 
f24) 



370 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

wrong. Returning tu his room, he had scarcely lam down when the door to 
an adjoining room against which stood a large bureau was burst open and the 
bureau fed to the floor, with a terrible crash, breaking everything that was 
upon it. Before the two could get out of bed they were seized by two bur- 
glars and a demand made for their money. Air. Lamb gave them all he had. 
The demand being repeated to his wife, she said she had a dollar and seventy- 
five cents upstairs. The villians made her get it without a light, at the risk 
of her life. They then declared that there was more money in the house and 
that the\- would kill them if they did not give it up. Mr. Lamb answered 
that they might kill them, but that they could not get any more money, for 
there was no more in the house. Then the\' assaulted-him and threatened to 
kill them both if they did not pay over more money. The}- first i)ummeled 
him awhile and then fired tw-o shots, one of them grazing Mrs. Lamb's head, 
splitting open her ear. Mr. Lamb, although badly bruised and one eye closed, 
managed to get out of doors, where he pulled the liell ro])e, which friglitcned 
the burglars away. 

The daughter referred to, who was sleeping in another room, crawled 
under the feather bed and thus escaped -discovery. Their son John, who was 
sleeping in a house some hundred yards distant, upon hearing the bell ran 
over to his parents' house and, finding they were suffering for medical treat- 
ment, proposed to go immediately for a physician, but they, fearing the 
rascals might return and do further mischief, be.g.ged him to remain with 
them till daylisj-ht. 

Durinf>' the niorni'Tr the tracks of the robbers were traced Imth wavs. 
between their house nnd town, but no further clue was ever obtained. 

^•ER^^ILLI0N colxtv ix mourning. 

The following will serve the purpose of showing how the deaths of 
Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley were taken by the citizens of this county: 

lincoi.n's ass.vssin.^tion. 

In common with the entire nation, the news of the death at tiie hand of 
an assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, just at the close of the civil con- 
flict in which he was the true i>atriot and hero, was received with profound 
grief and sorrow- by this people, who had faithfulh- supported the great man 
in his everv eft'ort to save the Union. The pul)lic meetings were sad ones 
thniughdut the countv. Men met on the streets, in the shops, mi tlie farms 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTILS, INL)L\NA. 37I 

and at cross-road postoffices, only to see depicted in one another's faces the 
sorruw hidden within their hearts. Stunned and silent at hrst, they soon 
ga\'e utterance U> ihe hitternt-ss nf their souls. A saved L'nion, Init a lamented 
and assassinated President. Mags were at halt-mast: emhiems of mourning 
were seen on e\ery hand, and many a praxer went ui) to the Ruler of Xations 
that ])eace nuglit conic out of the confusion that e.xisted on e\er\- hand. It 
was the first great national sorrow this people had experienced. The\- had 
freelv given up their hra\'e sons, on man\- a well fought field of haltle, in de- 
fense of the flag, hut nc\'er had Xher moiu-ned a President in such critical 
da\ s as those iif .\pril. 1863. 

DEATH Ol" PNI-:sn)ENT C.AKin ELD. 

Again, sixteen _\ears later, in jul_\, ibiiSi, the cowardl} hand of an "un- 
balanced man," with political hatred in his heart, shot down President James 
Abram Garfield, at the Potomac depot in Washington, D. C. He suffered on, 
and was the object of a nation's sincere prayers, until death claimed him, 
September joth, that year. 

The Iloosicr Slate, published then, as now. at Newport. N'ermillion 
county, had the following editorial on the death of (iarfield : "Todav the 
whole nation mourns oxer the death of our President, which occurred at ten 
thirly-fi\e last Monda\' night. I'dexen weeks ago (initeau shot him down at 
the I'olomac de])(.)t in \\ ;ishington. while on his w a\- to visit his wife who was 
ill in ati l''astcrn cit\. Although a -tout, heart)- man. usual'.v weighing two 
linn(h'ed ])ounds. he had dwindled down to less than one hundred and fifteen 
pounds, Tlic ])rayers ot the whole nation went u]> foi' him. liul axaileil notli- 
ing. Death was sealed upon his manly brow when he was first shot, and no 
mortrd could stay its onward march. The i)eo])le feel sad and fnllv ajipre- 
ciate the fearful calamit\' which has befallen o\w cnuntr\-. 

'A"esterda\- a large numlter of business bouses and residences were hea\'- 
il\' draiH'd in monrnini^-. It seemed like a iiall of dcsprn'r had sjjread over our 
quiet little village and the deeji ghioni of sadness could be plainlv depicted 
on the countenances of everyone. He is gone. Let the old warrior rest ! Let 
our ])co))lc hone for the best. 

"Memorial F.Ncrcises — In honor of the dead President, a public meeting 
was called at the court house in Newport by Marshal F. M. Pu'shop. on Snn- 
dav evening, to plan for a memorial meeting there on .\londav. At two p. m. 
Monda\- the court bouse was ful' ; business men all closi-d their places up and 



372 PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

attended in reverence and sorrow. I'rayer was ottered by Re\-. J. H. Hol- 
lingsworth. W illiani L. Little made an appropriate address, highly compli- 
menting the dead chieftain. C. \\ . W ard deli\ered a lengthy address, full of 
many beautiful sentiments. Capt. B. B. Sears followed with another ad- 
dress, as did also Henr\- Hollingsworlh." 

DE.VTH OF PRESIDENT m'kINLEY. 

hor the tiiird tune the citizens of \ erimllion county were called upon to 
mourn the death of an assassinated Tresident. i'erhaps no better index to 
the sentiment concerning this dastardly assassination can be had than to re- 
print a portion of an editorial that appeared in the Democratic organ at Clin- 
ton, the Saturday Argus, published by L. O. Bishop, which reads as follows: 

"This morning (September 20, 1901,) the people of this nation awoke 
to a great sorrow and shame. Sorrow over the death of William JVlcKinley, 
who had been twice elected to occupy the chair of the highest office in the 
land, a kind, sincere and true gentleman and a high public official. Shame at 
the consciousness that, in spite of all boasted liberty and justice and prosper- 
ity that were said to abound, out of all should cuiiie one whose life had been 
so embittered at the wrongs he saw that he dared to lift his hand against the 
head of the republic. 

"In this hour of national affliction, when the future rises full of ])Otent 
hopes, and the hearts of all tnie Americans are heavy w ith sorrow and ajijire- 
hension, there should lie no partisanship, no strife, nothing- l)Ut the truest 
comradeship, for the blow that has fallen from the hand of the barbarian 
and assassin is a blow, not at AVilliam McKinley the man. but a blow- by sav- 
agery at citizenship: b}' chaos, at law ami order. .\t this moment, when the 
destinies of the nation may be changing, there can be but one sentiirent in 
all our hearts — profound sympathy for the one weak woman on w Iinse frail 
slioulflers has fallen this crushing blow." 

In Clinton, memorial services were held at the Methodist Episcopal 
church, at which numerous jironiinent citizens addressed a large audience, 
upon whose every face were depicted the lines of grief and true sorrow, re- 
gardless of party lines. All were ]\TcKinley's friends, in a true nersonal sense, 
for he was of that type of manhood that ever lia-^ the <rood will of the com- 
mon peojile. in whose interests he always helip^■ed lie ^' as x^or'-'in" \' In'le he 
he'fl jnihlic office, either state or national. Tlie occasion of this memorial 
service will never be forgotten bv those present, anmnc;" whom were tiiose 



PARKE AND \'KR JlILl.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. T,JT, 

who had l)ecn called upon to mourn the death of two Presidents assassinated 
before, Lincoln and (Garfield, but to some this seemed the saddest of all, for it 

was in a time of su]>venK' peace and pros])crity in the country. 

rOVKRTY .\XD riAPl'lNESS. 

in a series of interesting articles frum the pen of Editor L. O. Bishop, 
in the Saturday Anjits. of Ciinton, in lyii, the following should be preser\-ed 
as a part of the history of X'ermillion county, showing as it does much of 
interest cnncciiiinL; the days hack a half century ago. While man\' of our 
readers will not (juite agree_ with the political philosophy of the writer, all 
will lie ])leased at the facts herein narrated: 

"In one of James W'hitcomb Riley's poems, Indiana's gifted poet reflects 
more than superficial sentiment when he exclaims: 'Take me Ixick to (iriggsby 
Station, where we used to be so happy and so poor.' That was the condi- 
tion of things that prevailed in Clinton half a century ago. 

"The Civil war contributed to this poverty in that it drew out of the 
country for destruction not only vast sujiplies in way of foodstuflfs, wool for 
clothing, li\-e stock, horses and mules, but it also drew into this fierce mael- 
strom 111 destruction all the aljle-liodiecl ]iroducers of wealth frtjm town and 
cnuntry. It put a stu]; to all exchange. Iiecause jjrices of exerytliing went 
skyward and wages were reduced tti a minimum, because no plans were for- 
mulated fur any ]nili!ic or pri\atc imiircwement that would circulate mone\' or 
employ labor. 

"So we were all poor in Clint<in in iS(ii-r)_:^. \\"e were poDV in material 
things liecause there are things toda}' in common use that bad not been in- 
vented. For instance, there was the item of artificial ligiit. Xn longer than 
fiftv \ears back we had not even coal oil lamjis. .\rtificial lights for stores, 
churches and homes were made in two ways. Candles were used in chande- 
liers and candlesticks. .-Xnd considerable artistic taste was displaved in mak- 
ing the chandeliers and candlesticks. And iben nur mothers took yreat pride 
in seeing how smooth a candle thev could make liv ])ourin<j n^elted tallow 
down the mold frame tbrousli which the wick had 1'>cen struncr. Others used 
an open lamp, filled with oil of any inflammable kind and the wick hung over 
the edge of the lamp, nr it might run up a spout and be lisfhted. James 
Pa^•ne informs me that coal oil did not come into use here until about TR64. 
when 'Esquire 'Harrison invested in a coal oil lamp and took it to his country 
home, a few miles west of the citv. Tt was a venomous looking creature. 



374 PARKE AND VERMILl.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

With no chmuie), and double-barreled at that! it created more curiosity 
aniung the neignijuii tnan a tlymg niachuie does today. Jr'eople would drne 
miles and miles and make it a point to have business at the Squire s to see 
that "new fangled contraption w itli which the famil) was going to cut some 
spiurge at niglil. J-lut there was not one m the house who would go up close 
to the lamp to light it. And it was used as an ornament until tinally someone 
did screw up courage to tire the tip ends of the two little wicks that seemed 
to run like a fuse to a mine below. 

"The experiment wurkcil ail right. At least it did nut l^luw up and that 
oil lamp soon de\eloped into a better affair and candles and grease lights, 
with their snuffers, smoke, grime and dirt, were soon relegated to oblivion. In 
the matter of producing a i)erfect artificial light the whole world hung on for 
centuries to the crudest of affairs and seemed nexer to think it possible to 
invent anything better. .\s a matter of fact, the world has made more prog- 
ress in way of comfort, convenience and cleanliness and in labor-saving de- 
vices in the past fifty years than it did in all the centuries that had gone be- 
fore. 

"Even as late as 1868 the wheat crop was cut by hand. And not until 
the White Brothers, Or\ille, Ren, Florence and James, always progressive 
faniicr>;, \entured to inxcst in a Walter A. Wood binder, and the Knowles 
Brothers, Charles B. and James E., tried the McCormick, that the farmers 
could he induced to get away from the back-breaking, sla\ish task of iiarvest- 
ing l)y hand. These machines were crude, heav}' affairs, costing from three 
Imndreil and thirtv-fixe dollars to tiiree hundred and se\ent\-fi\ e dollars, re- 
spectivclx'. and required from three to four horses to draw them when in the 
field, and were easily disarranged. Then Scott Haginhaugh. an agricultural 
im]>lement dealer, took the agency and liegan to exploit their many \-irtues. 
The machine used was to bind the wheat by means of wire banrls, which 
were cut by a halciiet in tliresliing. One dax- a farmer asked Scott wliat be- 
came of this wire. Scott, being equal to all emergencies, \-erv coolh' and 
promptly replied that 'It. evaporated.' The explanation seemed to be satis- 
factory, as a number of machines were sold. But the law of evolution was 
constantly at work, eliminating the old anrl useless and sulistituting the new 
and lielter ways of doing things. 

"Tlie richest man in Clinton at the beginning of the Ci\il war was prolv 
abiy worth ten thousand dollars, niostlv in merchandise, a residence mid 
some farm land. One fami'v. tliat of Ccnrse ^rcCiillmic;!'. had a niann ->nd 



PAKKE AND VERMU.I.ION COUXTIKS, INDIANA. 375 

tliey liad u spick bpau parlur iii the uld 'White House tliat now stands on 
bouth Alain street. 

■John i'ayton was a successful nieichant and later un furnished his 
fainil} with a piano; John \\ hitcoinb, another merchanl, purchased a piano. 
But outside of these three families, the evidences of wealth and luxury in 
Clinton were far between. 

"We were all poor iii Clinton in the early sixties,' and that poverty was 
no more like the poserty that infests our cities today than German siher is 
like the genuine article. The poverty of 1864 was not poverty that came to 
men by reason of unjust laws or of vicious systems. It was the po\erty of a 
natural condition of things; wealth was not. it was a poverty that made all 
men feel socially equal, ami they were on good terms with each other. There 
was no embarrassment on the part of either if a poor washwoman went to 
divine ser\ ice attired in calico and sat down beside a woman in all wool or 
silk; all was well. I have seen the mechanic sit in his shirt sleeves by the side 
of the merchanl in alpaca coal, and lioth sing the same Innins nf [)raise and 
gratitude from the same book, ami both kneel in the same pew and ])rav to the 
same Ueaxenh' bather for his guidance and mercy, and all classes would join 
in fraternal spirit at the same hospital)le table. The poverty of 1861-65 did 
nnl imbnile men by closing against iheni and their children all tlie natural 
oppiMlunilies for ad\anceinent. It did not di\ide society into two great hos- 
tile camps that we see about us today, the fortunate on one side and the out- 
cast on the other. The ])oor man was not shoved off the earth b\' some cold, 
unfeeling corporation, aided by jiolitical prostitutes and professional para- 
sites. The one great universal, underlying cause of the hap])iness tliat ])re- 
vaiied in i86[ was the fact that e\cry man was practically free to use the land 
and reap all proceeds of his labor. Tt was this that gave strength to the 
Xortb. It was the denial of this principle that made the South weak, and 
which finally 'ed fo its defeat and wiping out of its long cherished system. 
sla\-erv." 



CHAPTER X\1II. 



CITV OF CLINTON. 



Llinloii, named in honor of an earl}- governor of Xew York, DeW itt 
Clnilon, was laid out, probabl}', b} Wihiani Harris, a resident of Jviartin 
county, Indiana, in 18J4. Aiartin was a government surveyor. But the rec- 
ord of town and village plats at Newport shows that Clinton was platted 
and recorded by Lewis F. Rodgers, on January 8, 1829 — probably a corrected 
and legal platting recorded of the original town, it is .-situated (the original 
plat) in section 15, township 15, range y west. 

At first tlie growth of the town was very slow, indeed at the opening of 
the Civil war it only contained about two hundred and fifty inhabitants, but 
in 1868, when a railroad was an assured fact, it took on new life and vigor. 
But before railroad days it was the center of an agricultural district around 
it for a radius of fifty miles or more. Across the \\'abash the people traded 
mostly at Terre Haute, fifteen miles distant from Clinton and always an 
absorjjing factor in the country trade. Clinton stands on a le\el plateau of 
land extending from the western bank of the Wabash back nearlv a mile to 
the hills, in which the great coal deposits are. w hich have for years been suc- 
cessfully worked. The population of Clinton, according to the 1910 United 
States census, was 6,289. ^"t according to the igu city directorv, carefullv 
compiled, the city now has a population of 8,379. .\side from tlie mining 
element, the population is largely American. The commercial interests may 
be listed as between the extensive coal mining industry and the agricultural 
trade, with a considerable amount of money also put into circulation by rea- 
son of the vast brick and tile industries of the community, the paving brick 
alone being a large industry. But beyond question, tlie city thrives largelv on 
its mining interests which are increasing yearly. 

The transportation facilities are provided largely tlirougli the Cliicago & 
Eastern Illinois Railroad and the Terre Haute. Indianapolis & Eastern Trac- 
tion Company. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 377 

THE BEGINNINGS. 

The first mercantile establishment in Clinton was opened l)y jolm and 
Benjamin R. Whitcomb, who kept a small general store. Other early business 
men were John Payton, John R. Whitcomb, H. B. Cole, John Ferrel and 
John Marks. Later business men were James McCulloch, Otis M. Conkey, 
Jones & Chestnut, troni Paris. Illinois. Leandcr Munsel, from the same 
place. Alanson Pialilwin. of Paldw ins\ille. illinnis. wlm were exlensixe jinvk 
packers at Clintrm. This cit\' was fur manv \'ears a noted ])nrk market and 
slii])pin2; point for packed pork. 

r,esser business was carried on h\' J. \\ . and h'ieldini.;' .Shepai'd. and 
\'olne\' IhUchison. nicclianics. who afterward nuned into the countr\ and 
became successful farmers; S. K. Patton. a cooper; 11. V. rveddint;'. carriage- 
maker and l)lacksmilh. and others. 

Many of the buildim;'s nccu|)ied 1>\- these ])ioneers were still --landinL;' in 
the nineties, on the bank of t1ie ri\-er. near the railroad bridsie. where the old 
boat landing was, as monumental relics of that long-ago steamboat period. 
The scenes of the ]iast e\-er and anon rise in the \-ision and memory of the 
older citizens of Clinton, who seem again to hear the shrill whistle of the 
steamer and the wharf-talk of ri\er boatmen and roustabouts, as they loaded 
and unloaded the great cargoes of merchandise to and from the boats bound 
north and south from this landing place. 

The population had not reached over one thousruid eight hundred in 
1890, but modern de\elopnient. the growing industries, and general trend of 
the times of peace and real prosperity, will not long iiermit a city located as 
is Clinton to stand still, hence its ]iresent size and business enter])rise. 

EFFECTS OF CI\"I1. W'.\R. 

At the close of the Civil war there was a complete change in commercial 
and industrial life. It can onl\' be comjiared in physical nature to an up- 
heaval that obliterates old paths, landmarks and structures. Prior to the 
Civil war Clinton ;uul the surrountling country had many industries. It was 
the era of the small industry under individual control. Such towns as Per- 
rysville, Eugene, Mecca, Clinton and many others were centers of this kind 
of industry. Tn Clinton we bad a wagon factory conducted by Ix F. Morey. 
father of W. L. Morey. Tn that shop wagons were made complete, from 
end-gate to the tongue. And they were good wagons, too. They were like 
Holmes' wonderful "One-Hoss Shav." "that ran a hundred vears to a day." 



378 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

They were like tlie cliaracters of tlie men who built them — strong, close 
built and enduriiiy. In connection with this wagon factor)' was the black- 
smith ^hn[). where the iron work was made, the paint shop where they were 
painted. 

Today these wagon factories have all been brushed away by the big fac- 
tories, owned and controlled 1)\- corjiorations backed by millions of dollars. 
We had a tan vard at the foot of Cronipton hill, where an old man, named 
fohn Crom])ton. tanned hides and prepared them for the boot and shoe fac- 
torv, conducted bv John K. Ryan, on South Main street. Between these 
two, we used to get boots and shoes made, pretty high priced 'tis true, but 
built like the garments of the children of Israel for wear. 

There was Harry Redding's famous copper shop, where barrels and 
casks were made. There were the great pork-packing industries. There was 
Robert Chambers' cabinet shop, where furniture was made. There was 
Greenwat's blacksmith shop, where horseshoes were made, and Wiley's 
])lace, where cradles, bedsteads and coffins were made to order. There was 
the Mallor\- mill, where cane was ground and the juice was converted into 
sorghum mo'asses, which our mothers used in making ginger cake aljout 
three inches thick, as big as the o\en would take in. and which was compar- 
able onl\- to the food of the gods. .\nd there were saw-mills and shingle- 
mills and gri.st-mills all over this country. At Mecca, a woolen-mill used 
up the raw wool that was raised on' the backs of sheep that roamed the hills 
of Parke and \^ermillion counties. It was a Mecca indeed, for to it the 
mothers for miles around made tlieir annual ]iilgrimages e\ery fall, to Ia>' 
in a suppiv of good woolen clothes for use in the family during the follow- 
ing winter. The motive power of this woolen-mill was water that had been 
accumulated by placing a dam across the Big Raccoon. Perrysville was a 
thriving, humming town and easily the best town in tliis county, doing an 
immense business in manufacturing and merchandising. 

West of Clinton was the Tndi.'ma Iron I'urnace, which em])loyed a host 
of men, scattered a large jiay-roU throughout the township, and which used 
u]) the iron ore found evervwhtre in the beds of the creeks. Tn fact, the 
]ieopU' were so self-de])endent that the\' could practically get along for long 
I)eriods without an\- outside aid. \nd \'et all these industries were paralw.ed 
and forever silenced by the after-results of the war. The fires died out of 
the smelting furnace, the boats came no more for their usual cargoes. 

.\t this time Main street was only a second-rate afifair. All the Inisiness 
was done along First street. The river bank was built up almost solidly in 
wood yards, coal yards, grain elevators, great warehouses, pork-packing 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 379 

liousep, 'itoR's. etc. ll \\a>^ n\or commerce. 1 lia\e seUloin e\er s^one over 
into Illinois that 1 dn not meet some old farmer who, halt a centurv ago. 
hronght his grain and pork to Clinton to he shijiped off south in payment 
for tlie product of sla\e lalior. There was no outlet for all this sur])lus 
)jroduct. There \\a^ no place to ^hi]) it and no way of oetting it on to the 
markets of the wor'd. And the inilustries, in and about Clinton, wilted at 
the blast of war as a sensitixe |)lanl will wilt in the hand. Tlie men left the 
furnace lo go to the front. Althongii the\- were all l)emocr;ils. the\- were 
all loyal to their country. The fires went out. ne\'er to light the midnight 
skies again. .\nd today the place is almost a tradition. The flouring mill 
of William Hedges closed down, to never again turn a wheel and was later 
taken down, brought to town ;uid rel)uilt and lun-ned in March, 1891. The 
pork-packing houses all closed down, ne\er to re-open. The coal and wood 
yards and river traffic all fell into decay. The grain traffic alone held on 
until in the seventies, when the railroad came to its relief. Boys used to 
climb u]) into the warehouses and over the huge timbers to chase the bats 
and owls out from their hiding ])laces. (The abo\ e picture of Clinton and 
neighl)orhood w as p.ublished in the . liu/iis hv I.. ( ). Bishop and is doubtless 
true to life fort\- and fifty years ago.) 

INDUSTRIES OF CLINTON. I912. 

.\mong the leading industries of the city of Clinton may be here cited 
the Clinton Pax-jng ISrick Company, which was established in 1893. with a 
capital n( lift\- thousand dollars: M. L. ^b)r•Jy, president: II. C. Dies, treas- 
urer: I. W. kohl), secretary and manager: 1'.. IT. Morgan an<l M. C. Wright, 
directors. The first output of this extensive jjlant was in .August. 1893, the 
capacity being forty thousand brick per day. The specialty is paving brick 
of a \'erv superior (piality. The com])any own sixty-five acres of land, and 
thus ])roduce their own raw m;iterial. They emplin- about si.\ty-fi\e work- 
men, and run the \ear round. The outi)ut is nearly all soUl in the great 
Middle West. The clay this company owns will furnish all that is needed 
for manv \cars to come. It is one of the mo.st extensi\e plants in this sec- 
tion of Indiana, and is the largest of any, save that at Veedersburg alone, 
which is the greatest in Indiana. 

This has come t(~i be almost a clay and cement age. and as timber be- 
comes scarcer, the construction of almost all kinds of structures will be ac- 
com])lished by the use of brick and cement materials. For street i)aving 
there is nothing now known so excellent as the proper grades of paving 
brick, and in this Clinton excels. For this reason the citv is indeed fortunate 



380 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

in havinn; this modern plant situated within her limits, furnishing employ- 
ment for so large a number of men. 

Other industries include the nxerall and -^kirt factory, in the scnith ])art 
of the cit\ , which employs al)ont seventy-five persons, mostly women; the 
Clinton Canning Factory, which institution puts up large quantities of vege- 
tables: the ice com]iany, making artilncia! ice of a splendid (|uality; tlie ma- 
chine shnp< of TTavs &• Balmer and that of R. P. Shattuk ; the liard-wood 
saw mills, located in the central eastern portion of the citw near the Wa- 
bash ri\er front, the ])ro]:)erl\- of Butcher & Cooper. 

Of the greater industry, that of coal mining operations, the cliapter on 
^[ining will treat. 

The milling interests are well represented by the Clinton Milling Com- 
pany, whose large plant is situated in the heart of the city, near the vivcv 
front, where a fine grade of fliiur, meal, graham and feed is produced. 

THE PO.STOFFICE. 

Clinton has the most important postal business of any ])OStoftice within 
the county. It is the only second-class office and is now looking .forward 
with great anticipation to the time when it will become a free deli\-ery office, 
the population of the city long-since having passed the limit for such a change. 
There are four rural routes extending out from this office to the outlving 
country, and the parcel post is now installed and in active operation. Again, 
it is promised that the coming session of Congress will appropriate for a 
postoffice building not less than sixty-five thousand dollars. 

There being a very large foreign element in and near the city, this has 
long been a good pa}ing money order center. especiall\- in foreign orders. 
The postal .savings department of the office was established in October, 191 1, 
and on December 13. 191 2, the books .showed an amount of $14,604 on 
deposit. The other business of the office, asifle from monev orders, amounted 
to $11,703. '" the last fiscal year. 

The postmasters of Clinton have included the following: The first was 
Dave Patton: then, commencing with James McCollough, who served from 
1856 to iSrio, the postmasters have been John A. Campbell, t 860-65: John 
Payton, 1865-69; John G. Campbell, 1869-72; Thomas H. Allen, 1873-77; 
John F. Leighton, 1877-85; George W. Edwards, 1885-89; Marietta Blythe, 
1889-93: L. O. Bishop, 1893-97: W. H. Bonner, 1897-01 ; J. N. Foist, 1901- 
10; John O. Stark, 1910-14. 



PARKE AND VEK.VlII.l.lOK COUNTIKS, IXDIAKA. 38 1 

ClirNCIll'.S A.\|) I.ODC.KS, 

Clinldii has the luiluwiny churclu-s aiul lodges: 

Ruinan Catholic, Sacred Heart. Xo. 548 Nebeker street. 

Christian, northeast corner lilackmaii and Sonth Se\enth streets, 

Finlanders Lutheran, Xo. 32b Xorth Eighth street. 

Methodist Episcopal, Blacknian and South Fenirth. 

African ]^Iethodist Episcopal, iMl'tli and South .Main streets. 

Presbyterian, northwest corner South Third and Mulberry streets. 

r'irst Italian Presbyterian, Xorth Eighth and Oak streets. 

United Brethren. No. 910 South Main street. 

Fraternal Cjrder of Eagles. 

Columbian Federation Societies. 

Grand Army of the Republic, P. R. Owen Post Xo. 329. 

Knights of Pythias, Hazel Lodge No. 217; Victor Lodge Xo. 553; Lhii- 
form Rank No. 105; Pythian Sisters. 

L^nited ]\Iine Workers of America, in whicli :dl the fifteen mines about 
the city are represented. 

Masonic. Jerusalem Lodge Xo. 99; Royal Arch Masons, Clia])ter Xo. 
125; Knights Templar, Commandery No. 48; Order of Eastern Star, Chap- 
ter No, 254. 

Modern Woodmen of America, Camp Xo. 3105. 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, L'nity Lodge No. 82J : Clinton En- 
campment Xo. 143; A'ermillion Rebekah Lodge X^o. 82. 

Owls, Lodge Xo. 1199. 

Improved Order of Red Men, \\'aukeena Tribe Xo, 175. 

MUNICIPAL HISTORY, 

Clinton was incori)oratcil about 1848-49, by special act of the Legisla- 
ture, which empowered the trustees to prohibit the sale .of intoxicating 
liquors. In about 1879 the place was incorporated under the general laws 
of the state, and was di\ ided into live wards, from each of which there was 
elected one trustee, the term of office being for two years. The president 
was elected 1)\- the board and the members by the people. The records of 
the place ha\e nc^t been preserxed complete, but such as have been kept in- 
tact show that the olticers between 1880 and 1887 were as follows: Presi- 
dent.s — .Xcil j. .McDougall. 1880-84: Decatur Downing. 1885: W. L. Moray, 
1886-87. Clerks— D. C. Johnson, 1880; L. O. I'.isho]). i88t : Decatur Down- 



382 PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

ing. i88j: J. ,M. Hays, 1883-84: Ed. H. Johnson. 1885-87. Other officers 
to the present liave been as follows: The city was made a fifth-class city in 
1895 and the mayors ha\e 1)een William (i. Merrill. 1895: X. C. Anderson. 
1896-98: ('. M. White, 1898-OJ: n. C. Johnson, 1902-06: C. E. Lowery. 
1906-10: 11. .\1. Ferguson. 1910-11: M. AI. Scott, 191 1 ; AI. J. Tucker. 
1911 and ])resent incumbent. Mayor Ferguson resigned October 16, 191 1, 
and was fdllnwed by Scott, who resigned November 20, 191 1. 

The city officials in 1912 are: Mayor, Morgan J. Tucker: clerk, T. L. 
.MclJonald: treasurer. Arthur B. Roberts: attorney, John A. Wiltermood : 
board of health, Drs. \\'. D. Cierrish. C. W. Ash'ey. han Scott: aldermen, 
first ward, Louis Antoninnie : seconfl ward, James P. Tutw iler : third ward. 
William T. Reid : fourth ward, Lawrence W. \'ogel : at-large. John R. I'aine 
and H. S. Pinson : chief of police. W. I). X'anness: police. \V. S. A'anhousen. 
James Buffo, .\. M. Clark. David Bowser, Raphael Bunde. 

The fire department consists of a \olunteer company of about twenty 
men. w ith a chief and a dri\-er of the citv team : the former is now Carl 
Balmer and the latter (the onlv salaried man) is 1. B. Hu])]). The com])an_\- 
is said to be one of the most efficient in all Indiana. The citv owns a fine 
fire-fighting a|:)paratus. 

The board of education at present (1912) is: President. Dr. D. C. 
Schaff: secretary, Harmon K. Morgan: trea.surer. Frank Slater: .superinten- 
dent uf schools. Prof. E. E. Oberholtzer. 

The city has a fine public libran,-, the gift of Andrew Carnegie, which 
building was coni])leted in 1909, at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars. This 
lilirary is held jointly by the citv and Clintim township and a tax is levied 
for the jiurchase of books annually. The present board consists of: Presi- 
flent. H. M. l->rguson : secretary, J. W. Strain: H. T. Harger. Roy Slater. 
\'alzah Reeder, H. S. Pinson, ^Mrs. F. L. Swinehart. Miss Callie Mc^Mechen, 
Miss Bessie Vandyne. The librarian is Miss Faye Tillotson. The shelves 
of this new library are not well supplied with standard liooks, not even 
many of the state and L'nited States government rej^arts, but as time goes on 
doubtless the board will see to it that such works are adde<l to the librarv, 
which now is really largely of interest to the school children and readers of 
fiction and the standard papers and periodicals. About $1,800 is rai.sed an- 
nually liy taxation for the purchase of books. The coming year it is ex- 
pected the le\\- will furnish $2,800 for the extension of the library book 
stock. Tn December. 1912, there were T,.2f\T, books on the shelves. The 
library was established in 1908 under the act of 1901-03. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 383 

THE VVATKK WORKS AND LU.IIT I'l.ANT. 

L'p to about i<-)04 Clinton had nn s\steni of water \\m'k>, Init in that 
year the present system was installed. Wells were sunk to the t^ravel. in 
pure, living' water, in the vicinity of the plant, which is near the heart of 
the business portion of the city and near the bank of the \\"al)ash ri\er. 
Bonds were floated in order to secure means with which to Iniild the works, 
the cost to date being about $73,520. The plant was i)Ut in in n^io under 
the direction of Superintendent \\'. M. llamilton. who is still in charge. 
The total number of miles of water mains in the city now is thirteen. The 
plant was greatly enlarged in 1910 and is now supposed to be sufficient for 
a city ot twenty-tn'e thousand population. The (|ualit\- of water is second 
to none in tiie state. There are now thirteen wells, ranging in de])th from 
sixty to seventy-five feet, .going fifty feet below the waters of the W'aliash 
river, terminating in white gravel and sand, making a fine natural filter. The 
daily capacitv of this system is two and one-c[uarter million gallons. There 
are nciw ninety-two fire plugs or street hydrants, and in Decemlier. icjij. 
there were nine hundred customers. Water is sold both by meter and flat 
rate, the rates ranging from fifteen to thirty cents ])er thousand cubic feet. 
Three huge pumps are installed at the plant, but usually one is sufficient. In 
case of fire, another is set in motion and a ]>ressure of one himdred jiounds 
per square inch is realized in the business portion of tlie city. One of the 
mains extends about one mile out from the jiuii'ping ])lant. The ]iresent 
officers of the water works are the water committee of the city, with \\ill- 
iani Hamilton as superintendent, with Leslie Gallowa\- and Jesse C". Patch 
as engineers, one for da\' and one for night. 

ELECTRIC LIC.HTINC. I'LA.NT. 

While not a jjart of the munici)>al improvements, the electric lighting 
system in Clinton is here given. It is a i)rivate cor])oration. which organ- 
ized and commenced operations in the summer of 1891. the turning on of 
the current being on July i st of that year, and on the Fourth of July it was 
a feature of the citv"s Independence day celebration. It is known as the 
Clinton F.lectric I.i.ght and Power Com])any. Its first directors were J. F.. 
Knowles. Daniel IMcBeth. P.. H. Morgan. W. I.. Morey. W. II. I'.onner. J. 
W. Robb. secretar\- and manager, who has served in this cajjacity since then 
with a few vears interim, and constantly since 1905. .\t first simply an 
arc svstem was installed, but in 189J the incandescent system was put in 



384 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

operation. The plant is located on Vine street, near the water works plant 
of the eity. close to the railroad and river front. They now furnish power 
to al! the factories and mills in the city, save two newspapers, even furnish- 
ing the power fur the roller mills and refrigerating- plant. Jt is all home 
capital and is a financial success. The plant has three immense Corliss 
engines and three dynamos, though but one usuall}- is employed, the others 
being for emergencv and power extension when needed. The present ])resi- 
dent of the company is David AIcBeth ; vice-president, Mark Xebeker, and 
J. W. Ri)l)bis secretary and manager: the other director is B. H. Morgan. 

ITEMS OF INTEREST. 

Aniiing the experiences of the people of Clinton, in years gone by, the 
following nia\- be of interest to the present-day and future generations: 

Here, as elsewhere in Indiana, the liquor question has ever been a thorn 
in the side of respectable citizens. Here has been fought many a hard con- 
test between temperance and anti-temperance people. The saloon is still 
here and will likeh' exist until some state or national law wipes the business 
from the face of the commonwealth. One of the most remarkable move- 
ments along this line, in modern days, was the "Woman's Crusade" of 1874- 
7O. In 1874 a band of praying women laid siege to^ a saloon, day and night, 
being on duty in divisions, by turns. The proprietor finallv surrendered. In 
A])ril. 1875, a company of ladies, headed by Mrs. Malone and Mrs. I\il)li\-. 
marched in double tile to the saloon owned by Tice & Melcher. to hold an 
interview with the proprietors : but on arrival found the fort evacuated and 
the doors wide open. The ladies guarded the place until evening and then 
retired. The next night one of the proprietors was arrested, and while he 
was in custody the citizens gathered at the point of contest and demolished 
everything that contained intoxicating liipiors. The proprietor then sued 
fifteen of the citizens for $5,000 damages, but the case was compromised or 
dismissed. Other events of this crusade occurred, but of minor importance. 

There are now numerous saloons doing business under a license sys- 
tem, while the work of the temperance press and pulpit, of temperance so- 
cieties, including the Christian Temperance Unions, goes bravelv on. with 
the hope of making public opinion in the state and county strong enough 
in the near future to forever do away with drinking places in the city. 



PARKE AND VERMII.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 385 

NATLKAI, GAS. 

What was styled the Clinton Natural Gas Company was organized in 
the sjjring of 1887, with a capital of from two to four thousand dollars. The 
])rcsident was C. Mathews; secretary, W. 11. Hamilton; treasurer. N. C. 
.Anderson. The other direclt)rs were J. J. Higgins, Decatur Downing, J. E. 
Know'.es, C. B. Knowles. and W. A. Hays. Drilling followed, but the word 
failure was finally stamped on their laudable efforts. 



(25) 



CHAPTER XIX. 



THE TOWN OF NEWPORT. 



Xe\v|)ort. the seat of justice for Vermillion county, Indiana, was platted, 
or lecunled as a "\illage," July 28, 1828. and re-platted and corrected up 
for permanent record. March 8, 1837, by S. S. Collett: its location is in 
section 2d. township ly. rani^e 9 west. 

The first dry goods store opened here was by Daniel E. Jones, whose 
entire stock could have easily been carried on a wagon. This business was 
estaljlished in this manner: Jones was shi])ping hogs, some of which died. 
These w ere rendered into soap, wdiich was sold for goods. Later. Mr. Jones 
became a wealthy man, went to Chicago, where he became a millionaire, 
and died in that city. 

The first good residence in Newport was a l)uilding north of where the 
Methodist l''])iscopal church was erected. For mam- )ears the trees of this 
tow II were noted for their beautx' and size. .\ mimber of locust trees were 
planted in 1832 and in 1887 had grown to measure o\er two feet in diam- 
eter, while one apple tree had grown to the imusual size of o\-er three feet 
in diameter. 

Xewport was incorporated as a town early in the spring of 1870. The 
records show that the first officers w ere : ^^'illiam E. Livengood. president 
of the board: Clark Leavitt. Benjamin K. Dicken and E. V. Jackson: J. .\. 
Souders. clerk. Other presidents have been : E. ^'. Jackson. James A. Ikdl. 
E. M. Bishop. S. H. Dallas. James A. b'oland. William 1^. Henson, ()li\er 
Knight. James Hasty. Robert Landon. Cabin .\rrasniith. Robert E. Sears. 
John W. Cross. Passing' down to the present time the officers are: Presi- 
dent. I. M. Casebeer: other members nf the board. William .\shton. Her- 
bert C. Sawyer and John A. Darby; clerk, Clarence ]\Iagers: marshal. 
Matlicw- C. .\shcraft: treasiu-er. Robert A. \\'iltermood : William C. \\'ait. 
solicitor. 

Three attempts have been made to dissolve the incorporation of X^ew- 
port. Init all failed. The last was in 1877. when the question was put to the 
voters and b\- a majority of nineteen it was decided to hold the incorpora- 
tion. The town is still without a system of water works, but is furnished 
(under a ten-year contract) from Cayuga with a good electric lighting sys- 
tem. The town hall is leased. 



PARKE AND VERMIT.I.ION COUNTIES. INniAXA. 387 

doini;" l);ick nian\' years, the town was noted fur its niilliiii; interests. 
An olil mill stootl un Market street, called the luireka .Mills, run by steam. 
It was Ijuilt by James A. I'ell. who sold to L'urtis & White, who in turn 
sold to B. J. Abbott, and while in the possession of the latter. January j6. 
r88_'. it was burned. b\- a careless act of an eni|)lo\c-, and was ne\'er rebuilt. 
The loss wa-. estimated at three thousand the hundred dollars. 

The chief industr\- is now the e\tensi\'e tile works of William l)ee. a 
Chicago capitalist, who has a series of plants for clay-working in this and 
Parke counl\. These works run da\' and night, the \'ear around. 

The banking interests ha\e beeti already noticed in another cha])ter. 
The newspapers of \ew])ort will be found in the I'ress cha])ter. and the 
churches and schools in other chapters. 

( )n the night of .Mav 3. 1884. the Newport postoffice was robbed of 
three hundred and tift\ dollars, the safe being blown open. The burglars 
were frightened awa\ b\ the ])assing of a vrnnig man in the \-icinitv before 
the\' obtained all that tluw hail inten<led to. These thiexcs were nt'\er c;ip- 
tured. 

The town is huill in a ])leasing style, and many good residences are 
seen here and there. The site is an ideal one. and has a beautiful natural 
landscape surrounding it. The Chicago & Rastern Illinois railroad runs 
north and south, throu.gh the eastern |)art of the platting. alKint one mile 
from the court house and business section. The business house.s are built 
largelv around the four sides of the court house s(|uare. 

W'hile the saloon linsiness is no longer a great menace to Newport, in 
times past it was an "e\e-sore" to the better element, and many wrangles 
grew out of the liquor f|ucstion. The town fin.ally. in 1906. had its last 
saloon. 

The po])ulation of ^J'e^\port in ir;i2 was 732. 

TE^rPEKANCK MATTER.S. 

Xewport has had her own share of trouble over the li(|uor traffic, and 
the usual number of crusades and teinjierance societies and great temper- 
ance re\'i\als. This was a \exatious question back .before the Civil war 
period, when whiskx- was supposed to be better in grade than since I'nclc 
Sam exacted a large revenue. Bui jiassing over these early trials, we come 
down to a tiine of which man\- now remember the circumstances and events. 
in attempting to make Newport a ''dry" town. First the then popular Or- 
der of Good Templars was set on working basis at the place in 1868. with a 



388 PARKE AND VERMIM-ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

traveling Methodist minister, Rev. j. E. Wright, as president, Betsy Griffin, 
Joseph Hopkins, Benjamin Carter, Ivy A. Astor. Sally Canady, John Wig- 
ley, Rebecca Huff and Joseph Cheadle. The lodge has long since been dis- 
banded. 

The next movement was the tidal wa\e of the "\\'oman's Crusade" in 
1874, ha\ ing- its birth in Ohio, and which struck Newport in 1874, with 
great force. Meetings were held in the churches, speeches made, and a 
committee appointed to wait upon the two saloon keejjcrs of the countv 
seat, who soon closed their dram shops and signed a plcilge not to again 
open in Xew])ort. The drug firm of William M. and William L. Triplett 
(father and son) refused to sign the pledge, ofifering one in its stead al- 
lowing them to sell li(juor for meilicinal, mechanical and sacramental pur- 
poses. They were pulilicl}' charged, in a set of formal resolutions, with 
selling liquor at wholesale for drinking purposes, Init they denied the charge. 
The controversy was long and bitter, but they held their ground. Later the 
father died and the son remo\'ed from the coninumitx'. 

In December, 1874, a woman from the country, becoming enraged at her 
husband's way of spending his time and money in the saloon, made a general 
scattcrment among the inmates of the saloon, which she entered boldlv. and 
as a result her husband w as made to walk straight to his home. 

In 1877 that great temperance reformer, Francis ~\Iurpliv. and his blue- 
riblion movement came to Xew])ort like a cyclone. Alore than three hun- 
dred men signed the pledge in two nights' time. Again in 1879 came the 
rc(I-ril)l)on movement of Tyler Mason, which proved still greater in its efifect. 

At one time Newport had a very strong \^'oman's Christian Temper- 
ance Union and edited a department in the Hoosicr State. Leading mem- 
bers were Mrs. Zachariah Thornton, Mrs. Ram.sey. ;\Irs. Ervin Lamb. Mrs. 
Sears and others whose good work was not in vain. Fiftv ladies in all were 
thus associated at Newport. Perrysville Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union was also associated w ith these ladies. 

BUSINESS l.XTERESTS OF i()I2. 

Attorneys — Hugh H. Conley, U'. Bert Conley, Martin C;. Rhoads, E. E. 

Neel, Homer B. Aikman, Charles N. Fultz. William C. Wait, Forest 

W. Ingram, Herman J. Galloway. 
Abstractors — E. E. Neel. 

Bank.s — R. FI. Nixon &• Co.s Bank (private), Citizens State Bank. 
Barber Shops — John H. Nichols, James W. Thomas. 



PARKE AND \'KRM I I.T.ION COLXTIICS, INDIANA. 389 

Blacksmiths — John A. Darby, janies C. 'iarrinus. 

Billiards and Pool— Wliiie & Nichols. 

Clothing and Furnishing ("joods — Henry Watson. 

Confectioner}- and I'ruits — Louis Coil. 

Cement \\'orks — John G. Alvers and Searing M. Rol)hins. of the firm of 
Robbins & Myers. 

Coal. Wood and Props — Willi.im H. Wiltermood. 

Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railway Agent — Ralph B. Hollingsworth. 

Citizens Mutual Telephone Company — H. V. Nixon. ])resident: James W. 
Thomas, secretary : Adva Julian, electrician. 

Dry Goods — E. R. Stephens. John T. Simpson, Ordie E. Pritchard. 

Dray Line — Ottie White. 

Furniture and Undertaking — Sam D. Chipps. 

Groceries — E. R. Stephens, Benton Nichols (with bakery). White & 
Hughes. John T. Simpson. 

■Grain — William M. Prillaman. 

Garage — "Newixirt Hill Garage," H. T. Pa_\ne and Ralph \'. Hughes, pro- 
prietors; P)\ron Hamblen, mechanician. 

Harness — L. J. Place & Son. 

Hotel— -"{'he Hart." by Robert A. Hart. 

Hardware and lm|)lements — L. J. Place & Son, Maurice Hegarty. 

Jeweler — Levi P. Bever. 

Lumber — (ireer-W'i'kinson Lunilter Lonipany. 

Li\ery — L. J. Place. 

^rusic--Zachariab T. Galloway. 

Millinerv--A]ice .M. Nichols. 

Meat Market — J S. IVIcCormick. 

News]iai)er — The Hoosicr Stale. S. 1!. Davis & Son. publishers. Bird H. 
l)a\is. editor. 

Physicians— Drs. 1. ^\. Casebeer, M. L. Hall. 

Restaurants — Elmer P>ush. Wiltermood Bros. (R. A. and George). 

Shetland I'ony Ivarm — L. J. Place. 

Saw-mill — Charles T. E\ans. 

Shoe Rejjair and Custom Work — John 1). Brown. 

The B. A. W. Gasoline Light Manufacturing Company — I>eniamin A. Wil- 
termood. 

Transfer Line — Andrew J. \\ ise. 

Tile \Vork.s— William E. Dee Clay Works. 

Theater — "Idle Ibnu' Moving Pictures" — Elbert S. Nichols. 



CHAPTER XX. 



CLIXTOX TOWXSHIP. 



Clinton townsliip, named in honor of De Witt Clinton, a former gov- 
ernor of X'ew York state, is the southern sub-di\ision in \'erniillion county. 
It contains fi.rt\-t\\o s(|uare miles, and in 1880 had a ])Opulation of 3.000. 
with ];ers()na' ]irop;rtv xalued. in i8S_', at $643,675. Its population in igio 
was (including the citv) y.341. with an assessed \aluation in city and town- 
ship an-'ounting to S3. 842. 335. 

John X'annest, the first settler in tliis count}', located in section 9, of 
this township, in iSifi. See an account of his settlement in the general 
chapter on "Early Settlement." The next to enter Clinton township was 
John Heard, w ho located and built the first house in what is now the city of 
Clinton, and in either i8ig or 1820 l)uilt what was later styled Patton"s mill, 
three and a half miles southwest of Clinton, the same lieing \'ermil!ion 
county's first mill. ]\Ir. Beard was also an early justice of the peace. 

In 1818 came William Hamilton, who had sons, John and William, who 
lived many years in the county, W'illiam dying about 1878. The parents of 
Xelson Reeder came from Ohio and settled here in 1818. 

Judge Porter, of New York state, settled here in 1819. His son Charles 
was born in 1816. was a good and useful citizen. Init finally ended his own life 
l)y suicide. John J. Martin, who died in about 1884. was in his second \ear 
when his parents moved to Clinton township in 181 9. The same vear Daniel 
McCulloch. born in York state in 1797, .settled in Clinton township, this 
county, on a farm fi\e miles southwest of Clinton. His son, W. B. McCulloch. 
was born here in 1830. 

It was in 1820 when the parents of John Wright. Sr.. emigrated with 
him from New York to Clinton townshiix George Wright came in 1832. and 
died many vears ago. 

.Major (_ hunu. a regular arnn- officer, came here from Terre Haute some 
time ])re\ious to 1820. and was ;;n efticient soldier in dri\-ing the Indians 
away from this settlement. He also particijjated in the battle of Tippecanoe. 
und.tT (leneral Harrison, on November 7. 1811. He was nian\- ^•ears one of 
the justices of the |)eace in Clinton township. His son. Thomas, was man\- 
vears an honored citizen here. 



PARKE AND \ERM II.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 39I 

Jiihn (."'(ULT, Inini Ohio, Incatcd in Clinton lowiiship in 1 Sj i , with liis 
son, Joscpha A. Clo\er. Josluia Dean, a native of X'irqinia, l)orn in icSoi. 
settled in this township in iSjj. and died alxnit 1S77. The Xndvews family, 
including several sons, located here in 1822. Henry and Eli Shew, natives 
of North Carolina, were mere boys when they located as residents of Clinton 
township. The former was horn in 1813 and came here in 1823. and the 
latter, horn in 1811;. w as hr(]Ui;iU here in i8j_^. 

Capt. William S\\an was born in Pennsylvania in 1802, settled in Clin- 
ton township, this county, in i82_^, was a member of the tirst jm-v in X'ermil- 
lion coimt\- and followed the rixer, making over sixtv trips to Xew ( )rleans 
on both rafts and flat-boats. He was a Unix'ersalist in his religious belief, 
and a h'reemason. He died at Clinton. January 29. 1887. 

Washington Potter, who was still living in 1887. was eight years old in 

1823. when he was brought to this township from ()hio. He was a carjienter 
by trade. 

Silas Da\MS. a cooper and farmer, was horn in 1818. and came to this 
townshi]) in 1823. The parents of William and Israel Wood came here in 

1824. The same year came John W. Hedges. His son. l)i-. 1. P.. Hedges, was 
born October 30. 1819. died February 24. 1883. and was buried in the Clin- 
ton cemetery. It was also in 1824 when the father of Walter (',. Crabb, born 
in Favctte county, Ohio, came here to reside. In 1827 came James 11. .\llen. 
born in CMiio in 1S22. 

John Payton. an early merchant in Clinton, born in Ohio in 1818. came 
here in 1828. The same \'ear came James Clark. Sr.. from Ohio, where he was 
born in I7<)8. He became a sturdy farmer ;i mile and a half west of Clinton. 

.Samuel l)a\idson. deceased many years since, was born in Ohio in 1817. 
and settled in this townshii) in 1830. Martin X. Davidson was born in Ohio 
in 1829, was brought here in 1832. li\e<l here many \ears and wa-; a rc-^iilent 
of Tcrre Haute for many years later in his life. 

George W. Edwards, of (."linton. was born in Indiana in 1827. and be- 
came a resident here in 1830, .\ndrew i^eed. a nati\e of Xorth Caro'ina. 
settled here in 1830. Thomas K'ibln-. liorn in this state in 18 10. came to Clin- 
ton township in 1830. 

Benjamin P. Whitcomb. born in Vermont in 1798, and his cousin and 
business partner. John Whitcomb. came in 1828. settling in the village of 
Clinton, where they were among the ])ioneer merchants. i)ork ])ackers. etc. 
Jiihn died in .\ugust. 1830. aged fort_\--one years. ISenjamiu K. died .\pril 2_^. 
1861, and his wife, .\nna S.. died May 21. 1860, 

John 1\. Whitcomb. another merchant, born in ( )liio in 1804, first settleit 



392 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

in Edgar county. Illinois, in 183J. and in the village of Clinton in 1834. He 
died in March. 1873. 

Scott Malone. who married Sarah, one of the twin daughters of pioneer 
John \'annest. came in from Ohio and resided here until his death, in the 
eighties. 

Simeon Tavlnr. a native of Indiana, horn in 1818, settled in this county 
in 183 1.. and died in the eighties. John F.. his brother, born in Ohio, resided 
here and survived him. 

In 1832 there settled in Clinton township Thomas G. Wilson, born in 
\'irginia in 1804: William J. Noblitt, born in Tennes.see in 1823; Benjamin 
Harri.son. horn in \'irginia in 1805. was a justice of the peace many years 
and was still living here in 1887. 

Robert 11. and .\daline ( ^^'est ) Xichols located in Clinton township in 
1S35. He died here in 1872. aged fift\-fi\e years, and she in 1874. aged 
sixty-five years. 

Hiram B. Cole. John Ferral and John Marks were early Clinton mer- 
chants. The latter moved South. Ferrrd died Fel)ruar\- 23, 1832, aged thirtv- 
si.x years. 

In 183(1 came \\'illiam Payton and Philo Harkness. Payton was born in 
Kentucky in 1S14. and Harkness in New York in 1816. In 1837 came Reuben 
Propst. and the next year Isaac Propst. natives of Virginia, but finally re- 
moved from this county. Acrpiilla Xebeker. born in Delaware in 1815. lo- 
cated in Clinton township in 1837. He was a liberal-minded citizen and a 
very considerate, kind neighbor. He died in 1880. Jesse Spangler. a native 
of Pennsylvania, born in 1807, settled here in 1837, and died here about 1881. 
D. F. Fawcett came in from ^'irginia in 1833. settling near Cioshen. \ i.go 
countv. and then in 1837. in this county, near the southwest corner. He died 
in 1843 in Jas])er county. Illinois. 

From the above date on. the settlers came in so ra]>idh- that it is imjiossi- 
ble to trace their comings and goings, but they included manv of Clinton 
township's best citizens. 

A former history of \'ennillion countv 'niention>. in 1887. the fact of 
there being three or four saw-mills in Clinton township, besides the two lo- 
cated at Clinton. Also that one of the largest agricultural interests in the 
township, at that date, was the extensive stock farm of Claude Mathews at 
Hazel Bluff, on Brouillet's creek, some three miles from Clinton. 

Of the churches and schools of Clinton township, the general chapters 
on these lojiics - il' trca' in detail. Also the .Treat coal niinin;,' interests form 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 393 

a special chapter, licncc will iKit In- inenliMiR'd in this lownship hislury. This 
is the ci\i! township in which is situated the city u\ Clinton, the larsjest place 
in the county, whose separate history appears in another chapter. 

.\nother town of the township of Clinton is Fairview Park, adjoining the 
city of Clinton, platted in 1902 and is a separate incorporation. It has a popu- 
lation of about seven hundred, and has numerous stores and shops, w ith many 
residences, schools and churches. 



CH. NITER XXI. 



EUGEXK TOWxXSHIP. 



This townsliip is the second fruni the north Hne of the county, and is 
bounded on the east l)y Parke count} , the Wabash river being the dividing 
Hne : on the south is X'erniilhon township, on the west is the state of Illinois, 
and on the north is Highland township. In this portion of \'ermilIion county, 
more than at any other point, were the Indian villages, battlefields and first 
trading posts, as well as the first settlements by white men. While it is true 
that John \'annest settled the count\- first in Clinton t(j\\nship. the settlement 
in Eugene was much more rapid than in other parts of the county. Eugene 
township contains thirty-three square miles, and in 1880 had a population of 
1,340, with personal property valued at $681,000. In 1910 the population 
was. including Cayuga, 2.1 12. In igii the assessed \aluation of both per- 
sonal and real property in this township was $1 .^jfi.oS^. exclusi\-e of New- 
port, which had $402,720. 

In 1869 Prof. John Collett discoxered. in a nidiind near luigene, a small 
coin u|)on which was an untranslatal)le inscription, in characters closeh- re- 
sembling .\rabic. This mound was covered with full-grown forest trees. 

Early settlers near Eugene village found an ax imbedded in the heart 
of an oak tree, with one hundred and twenty-five rings about it. thus indi- 
cating that the implement had been left there as earlv as 1712. or more than 
two hundred years ago. It was probably left there by the Erench people, 
possibly a missionary. It is true that dififerent kinds of timber, growing in 
different soils, may vary in the years noted by the "'timber rings," but this ax 
was evidentl}- placed there long before the Revolutionarv struggle. 

The following rare exhibition of animal nature occurred in this town- 
ship: One evening about sundown in April, 1868. as "Eel" Vickers. who 
lived about four miles northwest of Eugene village, was returning home from 
a house-raising, he was suddenly alarmed by the scream of a hnx. which he 
soon discovered was in pursuit of him. Being unarmed, he dared not give 
battle, and began to run homeward with all liis might. Of course the bea.st 
could easily enough have overtaken N'ickers at a boun<l or two. whenevci' it 
desired, but such is feline nature that it occasionallv rested a moment and 



PAI^Kl-: AM) XKKMII.I.inX C'OLXTIES, INDIANA. 393 

scri-aiiK'il 11111^1 icrrilicall} . \\ lien \'ickcT> a])i)r(iaclic(l his limise tin.- animal 
juni|)0(l arciuml in tnnu uf iiim. In iuK-nx-]!! his ])assa,t;c tn the house; hut at 
this ciitieal ninment. tlie (loi^s arrixed and chased it away. It- |)re\i(ius \elp- 
int;" had alarmed them and hiiiu<;ht them (JUt just in time, hut unt a second too 
soon. 

K.\KI.V SETTI.E.MENT. 

It was in Eugene towiishij) tiiat the Groenendykes, Thompsons, I'orlers, 
Armours, Colletts, Hepburns, Colemans, Malones. Naylors, Shelbys and oth- 
ers effected a settlement. .Many of iliese \\orth\- pioneers left numerous 
descendants who became and are still residents and influential citizens of 
Vermillion county. 

The firsl mill in this county was that erected in ("inlon tnwn.-hip li\' 
Jolm Heard, either in i8i<j or iSjo. llowe\er. that was a small affair com- 
])ared to the one built in this township by John ( h-oenenchke. al)out the same 
date, on P>is' \'ermillion river, at the ])oint in the northern ])ortion of Eugene 
township where the \-illage of Eugene was laid out. This was for man_\- years 
the best and largest mill in \^ermillion county. 

The following is an incomjiletc chronological list of pioneers who made 
their way to Eugene township between i8t6 and 1840: 

1816 — Noah Hubbard, with a w ife and a large famih- of children, .\fter 
residing here many years he became a Aformon and went to Missouri, to join 
his people, then to Nauvoo, Illinois, remaining with them until they were 
driven away by the Oentiles, about 1847, when he returned to this county and 
began preaching that ])ccnliar doctrine. Rejoining the .Mni-nmns in the colonv 
at Coimcil Bluffs, Iowa, he died there. 

1818 — Isaac Coleman settled three miles south of Eugene, on the i)rairie 
since known as Coleman's prairie. Judge J. M. Coleman came to the township 
a year later, from X'irginia, settling on section 16, township 17, range 9 west, 
and was long and intimatelv associated with the Collett families, lie had 
aided in laxing out the cit\- of Indianapolis, and also Terre iiaute, where he 
also built the old court house. In this count v he was one of the first grand 
jurymen. ;md an associate judge. Subse(|uentl\'. he remoxed to Iowa City, 
Iowa, where he built the State 1 louse, died and was l)uried there. The srune 
year (1818) came Major JauH's I'lair, who settled on the northeast (piarter 
of section Ui. townshi]) 17, range 9 west, an<l at his cabin on this place was 
held the lirst term of court in X'ermillion county. He had been a sharp- 
shooter on r.ake Erie, under Commodore Perry, in the war of iSij. when he 
was detailed to shoot at the Indians in the rigging of the British war vessels: 



396 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

liiit ai the \ er\- first fire of Perry's artillery the Indians were so frightened 
that they hastih' "scuttled" down into the hold, and there were no Indians for 
Blair to do his duty upon. As his vessel sailed past the British man-of-war he 
could see the glittering tin canisters down through the muzzles of their guns. 
For his faithful services Mr. Blair received a medal from the American gov- 
ernment. On one occasion, after he became a resident of Vermillion county, he 
was a candidate for the Legislature. He attended a shooting match, in which 
he participated, and aimed so well that every man present \oted for him at the 
ensuing election ! On still anotlier occasion he played an amusing trick u])()n 
the simple-minded ])ioneers and Indians, in liie settlement of a contrdsersy 
between them. Blair married a daughter of Judge Coleman, resided for a 
time on Coleman's prairie, then moved up the river and founded Perrvs\i]le. 
which place he named in honor of his brax'e commander. Commodore Olixer 
H. I'erry, remaining there until his death. Both Blair and Coleman had an 
intimate acipiaintance with the Indians and lived in friendship with them foi" 
a number of years. It frec|uently fell to their lot to act as peacemaker be- 
tween the Indians and what were termed "border ruffians," who were much 
the worse of tlie two. These two pioneers always spoke in the highest terms 
of Se-Seep, the last chief who lived in the vicinity, who it is said was one 
hundred aufl ten years of age, when he was foullv murdered bv a renegade 
Indian of his own tribe. Like the fading .-uitumn leaves, the Indians of these 
forests of X'erniillion county died away. The guns and dogs of the white 
man frightened away the game from their hunting grounds, or destroved it. 
and the virtue of a dire necessity called upon them to emigrate, to make room 
for the ax and the plow, the cabin and the log school house of the incoming 
white race. 

i''^ic} — John (Iroenendyke came in from near Cavuga countv, Xew 'N'ork. 
fir-t to Terre Haute in 1818 and the next year to this county, settling on the 
Rig \ ennillion river where Eugene now stands. He was the father of Tames 
— who huilt the "Big \'ermillion," the first large grist-mill in the countv al- 
read_\- referred to — and Samuel, and the grandfather of Hon. John Groenen- 
dyke and his cousin Samuel, and also the grandfather of the later generations 
of Colletts. The name was originally ^^an Groenendyke, which the old-time 
exi)ress agent at Eugene further abbreviated to Grondyke, a word of two 
syllables, the first being pronounced "groan." The first family of this line 
came to .\merica from Holland with the Knickerbockers in 1617. .settling in 
\ew Amsterdam ("New York). 

1821 — James .\rmour settled here .soon after Mr. Groenendyke, and as- 
sisted in building the pioneer mill ; he removed to Illinois about 1877. Alexan- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, IXIH ANA. 397 

(Icr Arrasinilli. liorn in Kentucky in 1795, eniigrated tn Sullixan cmintx. In- 
iliana. in iSiS, and in cither iSji or 1824 canie to X'crniillion conntx. lie 
(lied at his honie, two and a halt miles south of luigene. January 15. 1S73. 
ha\ing heen a member of the Methodist ICpiscopal church for fortv-odd years. 
He was the father of Richard Arrasmith. horn in Sulli\an county. iSiS. and 
of Thoiuas .\rrasmith. a wagon-maker at Newport at an early da\. 

1822 — William Thompson, father of James. John and Andrew, and of 
Mrs. Jane Shelby, from Pennsylvania, settled near the big spring a mile 
south from Eugene. Their descendants were frugal. in<lustrions ])eoi)le and 
hence accumulated a large amount of property. The same year came in Benja- 
min Shaw, from Vigo county, Init originally from Kentucky, and settled near 
Eugene, and afterward on the Little Vermillion, five miles west from New- 
port, where he died over three-quarters of a century ago. Jle was the father of 
ten children, three of whom sur\i\e(l their mother. Andrew Tipton came to 
this township in 1822 from Kentucky, where he was born in 1800. He re- 
mained here until his death, j. W. Tipton, of Ohio, settled on the Wabash 
ri\er. 

1823 — Lewis Jones located here about 1823. and died after the Cix'il 
war. ]. A. Jones, born in 1821, was brought to this townshi]) in 1823. 

[824 — Jones Lindsey, born in Ohio, in 1818, came here in 1824. The 
next \ear there arrived Oliver TJndslev, born in ( )hio in 1807. [lulge Rezin 
Shelb\-, who l>ecame \er\- wealtln-, died here manv vears since. 

1825 — The parents of James Sheward, who was born tin'-; year. I'.zekiel 
Sheward about 1870 in the township. 

1826 — William Lultz. Sr., l)iirn in l'enns\l\;ini;i in 1X05, with his wife 
Nanc\', came to Eugene township this year, locating on Sand I'rairie. Thev 
had thirteen children. The ])arents of Josejih Holtz. who was Uirn in Ohio 
in 1822. came to the countv in this year. John Holtz, who was burn in Ohio, 
the same year, settled here in 1834. 

1827 — Samuel \\'. ^^alone. born in Ohio in 1810. came to lielt town- 
shi]). this county, in 1824. and to Eugene townshi]^ in 1827: he conducted a 
hiitel fur a number of \cars. M. W. Xewiuan, bm-n in \'irginia in 181 1, was 
still a resident of the townshii) in 1887. Martin I'atrick came some time 
before 1827. Hiram Patrick was born here in 1829, and William Patrick, in 
1831, lived here many years, then moved to Missouri, .\bout this date came 
also John Ross, born in Ohio in 1829. and brought here the same year. 

1828 — Ig^natius Sollars, who died in June, 1833. Nancy, wife of Tru- 
man Sollars, died September 15, 1869, aged fifty-seveu and a half years. Mat- 
thew Cole, born in Ohio in 1824, was brought to this county in 1828. as was 



398 PARKE AXD VERIIILI.IOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

also [esse Smith, from Tennessee, the year of his birth. Tlie same year came 
also W. L. Xa\lor, and tlie next year Lewis T. Xa_\-lor. who still resitled here 
in the latter eighties. Both were born in Ohio, W. L. in 1821 and Lewis T. 
in 1826. Benjamin Xaylor, another old resident, was torn in 1826. Jacob 
lies, who died fort\- years or more ago, was the father of James B. lies, born 
in 1829. and lacol) H.. born in 1833. Ixith nati\'es of this count}'. 

1829 — John Hepburn. Sr.. who was born in \ irginia, died here about 
1880. John Hepburn, Jr.. was a native of \'ermillion county, this state, 
Williani Hepburn was born in Ohio in 1823, and was lirought here in 1829. 
Enoch W. Lane, born in Ohio in 1798, died here I)efore 1850. 

1830 — John Sims, born in \'irginia in 1808, lived a mile and a half south 
of Eugene many \ears. "Crate" Sims, his son. was born in \'irginia the same 
vear. Charles S. Little, from \'irginia. located near Eugene in 1830. and died 
in 1852. aged sixty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Rachel 
Moore, died, aged eight\- years, southwest of Xewport. in 188 1. Rev. Enoch 
Kingsbury came from Massachusetts to Eugene about 1830. and organized 
the Presbvterian church. His wife. Fannv G.. taught schon! there for a 
number of terms. Their eldest son, James G. Kingsbury, one of the editors 
and ]>ublishers of the Indiana Farmer at Indianapolis, was born at the resi- 
dence of Dr. .\sa R. Palmer, twcj miles north of Eugene village, in 1832. The 
same vear the famih- removed to Dan\ille. Illinois, where Mr. Kingsburv 
organized a church and preached there many \ears. He also acted in the 
capacity of a home missionary, preaching in neighboring counties both in 
Indiana and Illinois, till the close of his life in 1868. 

1S31 — Harrison Alderson. whu died at a \er\- earh dav here, came that 
vear to this township. 

18:^2 — I'hilo and Mild H^sford, twins, born in Xew York in 181 i. ^lilo 
died in January. 1880. after having spent a most useful and excellent life in 
this count}'. He was niany years in the emplo\' of Samuel Gronendyke. 
Joseph Wigley, this year, came to Eugene township. 

1833 — Isaac .\. Brown. Sr.. horn in Tennessee in i8i(). settled "Brown 
Town."' and was still living in the latter part of the eighties. He haci at one 
time in his life weighed three hundred pounds. 

1834 — John Rheuby. about this year, came in from Illinois and settled: 
he was a pioneer in Illinois in 1826. William Reuby was born in this county 
in 1.834- J- ^^ ■ Boyd was 1)orn in Pennsylvania in 1828. died here in the 
eighties. 

1837 — The parents- of Edward P.. and Joseph Johnson: father died manv 
years since. Edward B. was born in Indiana in 1830, and Jo.seph in this 



PARKE AND VFRMUIJOX COl'XTIES, TKDIANA. 399 



CO 



unt\ in iSo4. < ioldnian M. Hail. Ixiru in 'I'cnnfssce in iXix;. dieil in 1886. 
lames C. Intl. liorn in Xirj^inia in ]8if). rcnioxod frnni En.i;cnf to the sonth 
part of \'e!-mil!ion coiintw 

i8_^c; — Harne\ \ amlevanilcr, liovn in Illinois in iSjj. was a resident of 
Eutjene in 1888. 

(")tlier pioneers, whose _\ears of arrival are not ^i\en. are Zeiio W'urth 
and Sliuhael dardner. from Xorth (Carolina, who seltleil in W'alnnt (lro\e. 
Mr. Worth selected lands which were held hv his famil_\- man_\- \ears and still 
largely within the names of his descendants, the .sfeneratinn now numbering 
five in this county. Alexander Uichardson came that \ear also, and died in 
Indianapolis in 18(14. or possih'v a little later. Lewis Hollingsworth was 
horn in this count\' in 1835. On ("oleuian's ])rairie settled families named 
\\'ilson. Dicken. Hopkins, etc. 

John R. Porter. A. M., circuit judi^e for many years, and an advanced 
farmer between Eugene and Newport, was horn in I'ittslield. Massachusetts, 
Fehruar\- jj. ijqC). of an "old English familx :" graduaU'd at I'nion College. 
Schencctadx . New ^'ork. in 1815. taking the first honors of his c'ass. He 
studied law. and in 1818 liecame a ])artner of his i)rece])tor. About 1820 he 
came to Paoli. Orange count\'. Indiana, where he was countv clerk, postmaster 
and circuit judge. While there he married Mai-y Worth. Rccei\ing while 
there the appointment of president judge of western Indian.a. he mo\ed to 
this county, settling in Eugene township. His circuit extended from the Ohio 
ri\er to Lake Michigan. His term expired in ^l^;},J. Were he was elected 
judge of the court of common pleas for the counties of I'arke and \>rmillion. 
which oftice lie held until his death, alioiit 1830. He wa< a ]>romiuent states- 
man in carlv da\s. in laying the foundation of Indiana jurisprudence. Was a 
close reader of Eastern agricultural pajjers. and also of ancient classics, as 
well as foreign magazine literature. His conversational jiowers were conse- 
quently great, and his letters to the press were gems of eloquence. He was in 
correspondence, more or less, with such men as (Icneral Harrison. Henry 
Clav. Daniel Web.ster. etc., besides many (leorgia "colonels." Prominent In- 
diana men were frequently his guests. He was the leading spirit in all the 
public meetings in his neighborhood assembled I'or the deliberation of meas- 
ures of public welf.ire. He was president of the i^ogansport convention, 
which gave initial direction to the construction of the W'abash X'alley Railroad. 
As an agriculturist he was scientific and in advance of all his neighbors — so 
tar indeed as often to excite their ridicule. He leil in the rearing of fine 
• wooled sheep, and in the cultivation of Switzer lucerne, ruta-bagas. sugar 
beets, nioris. multicaulis. Raden corn and hem]). These paid him well in 



400 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

pleasure derived therefrom, if not in money receipts. The Judge was a broad, 
man\-sided man. the hkes of whom are seldom met with in any generation. 

TOWNS .\.\1) NII.L.KGES. 

The tow lis ami \ illages of this tuw nship are chiefly Eugene and Cayuga. 
Of Eugene, it mav be stated that it was laid out by S. S. Collett, in 1^27, 
about the "Big \ermillion"' mills of James Groenendyke. Samuel W. Ma- 
lone, who later became a noted hotel keeper there, located at that point in 
1S27. He was still hale and hearty in icSS/. James P. Xaylor. father of 
William L. Naylor, came in the next year. Eugene is but another example of 
how a railroad ma\- kill or make a town. The Toledo, Chicago & Eastern 
railroad Iniilt its line a little to the south of this \illage and then started up 
Cayuga. In 1887 Eugene had a po])ulation of about five hundred people. Its 
present population is placed at four hundred. The following was written of 
this village nearl\- tliirtv years ago : "'Two or three conspicuous features 
strike the stranger who visits the place. One is a most magnificent row of 
shade trees for a distance of two scpiares on the west side of the main busi- 
ness street — these are sugar maple. Each tree, with a perfectly symmetrical 
head, covers an area of forty feet in diameter. In the western part of the 
village is the most beautiful, perfect large white elm the writer e\er saw. 

■'The ground on which Eugene is situated is just sandy enough to l^e 
good for gardening and at the same time jirevent mud in rainy season, ^\'ells 
are sunk only eighteen or twenty feet to find the purest water in a bed of 
gravel. Several large springs are in the \-icinity. The river, especialh' l)e!ow 
the mill dam, aft'ords the best fishing of all ])oints probabh' within a fiftv mile 
ladius. l-'ish weighing si.xtv pounds or more are sometinies caught, and (ier- 
man carp, one of the planted fish, weighing eight ])0unds are occasionalh' cap- 
tured. 

"The country here is all underlaid with coal. There is one vein of nine 
feet with only a seam of ten or twebe inches dixiding it." 

On the bank of the river here was erected by James nroenend\ke some 
time previous to 1824 a water saw and grist-mill, which, with its successors, 
enjoyed the greatest notoriety of all in Vermillion count} . W'hile ^Nlr. Cole- 
man owned it. more than forty years ago, the dam went out. and in 1885 a 
new mill was erected, it being the third building on the same mill site, two 
having burned. The 1885 mill was a large roller-process plant, managed by 
Samuel Bowers. 

The first newspaper in this county had its birth and death at Eugene. It 



PARKE AND VKUM II.I.IDN COUNTIES. INDIANA. 4OI 

was the .\"t'ri.'.f Letter, by \)\-. R. .M. Wati-rnian. and it was estal)lislR-il in iS,^/. 
and breathed its hist six months later ! 

The Inisiness interests o\ tins xilhige are not lar^e, in fad tlie raih^oads 
and bniicHng up of other towns lias cast a settled gloom over all former hopes 
of greatness. But around this quiet. r|uaint old country village rests many a 
fond, almost sacred memory, to the mind nf the pioneers' children and grand- 
children. 

CAYUGA. 

Cayuga ( (jr Eugene Statii>n. a> it was called man_\ years ago) is at the 
railroad crossing of the north and south and the east and west lines of rail- 
roads in Eugene township (the ''Clover Leaf" and the Chicago & Eastern 
Illinois). The census books for lyio gave it a ])iipulation of almost one 
thousand people. It was at lir>t named OsoninidU. after ;in Indian chief of 
that name. The place is alive to every worthy business enterprise and its 
people are a whole-souled class, who seem to live "for the hea\en that smiles 
abo\e them and the good that they can do.'' 

The Cayuga mills were built in 1885 b\- a companx' consisting of Samuel 
K. Todd. Monroe G. Hosford and Eli H. McDaniel. It was a full roller 
process with a daily capacitv of one hundred barrels, ll was run by a se\'enty- 
horse-power engine. This mill was built in the midst of a wheat field, and w as 
a success from the start. 

Of the churches, lodges and schools of Ca_\iiga. the reader is referred to 
other chapters in this \o!tnne. on these s]iecial topics. 

.\ Grand .\rmy of the Republic post was organized at Caxiiga in 18-6. 
with about tweiUy-twd charter members and later had as high tis thirt\'-hve 
enrolled. The first post commander was William C. I-'ichelberger. 

A Good Templar society was formed liere in 187:^ and continued until 
1884. It had seventv members. The Red Ribbon movement was introduced 
here by Tyler Mason and the P>hie Ribbon movement l)y George McDonald. 
In T88r) a total abstinence society was formed, made up largely of reformed 
drunkards. It was sometimes referred to as the "Reformed Roosters." 

The churches of today in Caxiiga are the Christian. I'niied r.rethren. In 
Union, the Presbyterian. The lodges arc the Masonic. Odd l'"ellows. Knights 
of Pythias. Woodmen of the World and Moo.se. 

The \illage was made a town by act of incoriwration in about 1891. and 
its present officers are: President of the board. John T. Iliggins: the bal- 
ance of the board are S. C. Darroch. J- X. Spinks. Claire \'an Duyn. O. P. 
Williams: town clerk, George T. Ritter: marshal. Charles Prater 
(26) 



402 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

The town is lighted hy an electric plant owned by a Chicag-o capitalist, 
while the telejihone service is of home capital. The town has great need of 
water works. The electric light plant here supplies the county seat. Newport. 
Avith lights, under a ten-year contract. 

The postoffice safe was blown up by dynamite at one-thirty o'clock on 
the morning of .\pril u. 1890. So hca\}- was the charge that the safe was 
liliiwn to fragments. Window glass was broken in the front of residences 
and l)usiness houses. Xo money was obtained, however, neither an)- stamps: 
but the midnight thieves carried aw^iy many \alual)le papers belonging to the 
postmaster, and also those of Conway & M. ^^^ Coffin, lawyers. Xo clue was 
e\er had to the parties who blew up the office, 

collett's home for orphans. 

This institution is situated near the Vermillion and Eugene township 
line, about three and one-half miles from X^ewport. the countv seat. It was 
opened in Jime. 1902. and was founded hv Prof. John Collett and bisephus 
Collctt. l)oth deceased, but whose proi>ert\' had been di\ided so that it was 
possible to endow this home. It stands on a beautiful fonr-hundred-acre 
tract of farm land. It is a handsome building, costing originally twenty thou- 
sand dollars. The home was first opened by a su])erintendent wdid had lieen 
elected by the trustees of the Collett estate, named Charles ^^^ Ward," with 
Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Campbell, of Danville, Illinois, as overseer and matron. 
The conditions u])ou which this orphans' home was founded were such that 
any bright orphan whd had lived in \'ermillion countv six months might be 
received and cared for, but no idiots or feeble-minded children find a home 
here, save in special cases. .\t first, before the place became too much cmwded, 
old ladies of good character were allowed a home here, but after a few \ears 
it was found tliat childhood and old age did not seem to agree one w ith the 
other, and the ladies had to leave the home. ' The board reserves the right to 
reject any the}- see fit, but the worthy and unfortunate orjihan here is e\-er 
w-elcome and w-ell cared for. One thing was sti])ulated in the endnwu'ent. 
and that was that the ])lace should forever be for orphan cbi'dren and that 
the name should never be changed. The building is thirty-seven bv ninety 
feet, and the rooms include library, reading rooms, matron's and superinten- 
dent's offices and rooms, an overseer's room. etc. Toilet rooms and bath 
rooms are provided on both floors. An excellent kitchen and butler's room, a 
nursery department, for boys and girls, a sick room, a basement, with laundry. 
dry room, vegetable cellar and coal room with a large attic, where is a play 




SOLDIERS' MOXUMBNT. 
CLINTON. 




THE COLLETTS ORPHANS' HOME. 



PARKE AND \EKMIFJ.ION COUXTIES, INDIANA. 4O3 

house and room for ten extra Ijeds, completes the rooms of the home. The 
floors are hard maple and the rooms are finished in hard pine. A large porch 
extends over the entire frontage of the building, and attractive columns, two 
feet in diameter, extend fiDiu the ground u]) in front >>\ both stories, which 
are of the Southern colonial .style of architecture. .\ beating plant and light- 
ing plant provide mauv conveniences. This institution is a credit to the 
designers and the kind-hearted men of ])hil;inthnipy. who made it possible to 
])ro\ide such an excellent home for orphans in ^'ermillion county. The board 
of trustees, with the secretary and treasurer, annually ])r()vide for the man- 
agement of the home, which has acconi]>lishcd much good already. .\s the 
years go by the jjcople more and more appreciate this generous gift from two 
highly honored men who sought the happiness of the weak and parentless 
■ children. The orphan. abo\-e all others, will ever exclaim "Peace be to the 
ashes of the two Colletts.'" 

The i^resent secretar\- of the hunic is G. W. Wail, nl .\e\\]n)rt. Tlic 
author is indebted largely to the editor of the floosicr SUilr. published at 
Xewport. for the abo\c tacts concerning this humane institution and its 

BUSINESS INTERESTS IN I912. 

.\t Cavuga in the winter of i(ji_'-i_^ the l)u>ines> inlerests consisted of 
the following: 

Banking — The First National. 

General Dealers — Richardson llros.. linrton Dry Gooils Com])any. Hale 
& Darrow. Van Houtin ( b". V.. Ik Sou). 

Groceries — Galbreath &■ Schriuer. C M. ( iuy. 

Hardware — Fable & Son. (i. 1,. \Vatsf)n & Co. (also undertaking and 
furniture). 

Furniture — Thomas .\. Sprouts. 

Clothing — L. L. Haughn. 

Five and Ten Cent Store — John S. Grondyke. 

Drug-s — Booe & Booe, Daniel Conway. 

Farm Implement.s — J. O. Higgins. 

Lumber — James Morgan & Com])an\'. 

Grain and Coal — Cayuga Milling Company. 

Photographs — A. D. Conelly. 

Mills — Cayuga Milling Company. 

Jewelry — George T. Ritter. 

Harness Shop and Shoes — Whittington Bros. (N. T. and \\'. W.). 



404 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Restaurants — Charles P. Aliller, A. X. Mendenhall, Charles Gillis. 

Hotels — The Higgins and the Cayuga House. 

Newspaper — The Herald. 

Blacksmith Shops — Claire \'an Duyn. William P. Brown. 

Barber Shops — T. T. Sollers, Daniel Sollers, Milt Laughlin. 

Opera House — Frank Lindsley, manager. 

Meat Market— Ed. T. McMillen. 

Livery — A. L. Clark. 

Bakery — Cayuga Bakery, James A. Barr, proprietor. 

Canning Factory — C. P. Miller, president. 

Telephone and Light Companies. 

Physicians— Drs. E. A. Flaugher, W. P. & S. C. Darroch, AL R. Pol- 
lom. 

Dentist — George E. Wier. 

There are several small "farmers' " coal mines in the neighborhood. 
There are two brick plants, the Acme and the Cayuga Brick Company. 

The canning factory, a home industry, packs corn, peas and tomatoes. 



CHAPTER XXIT. 



IIELT TOWXSHTP. 



Ilelt township is the second from the southern Hne of X'erniilHon county 
and extends from the Wabash ri\cr west to the state line of Indiana and 
Illinois. It contains seventy-two s(|uarc miles, and in tSSo liad a [loimlation 
of 3,027, with a personal property valuation of $1,411,745. The igio 
United States census gave this township a population of 3,543, including 
the town of Dana, which had a population of 748. This is one of X'ermilhon 
county's most wealthy and progressive agriculttu-al sub-di\-isions. and has 
numerous towns, villages and hamlets within its borders. Its farming and 
mineral resources are very large and constantly on the increase. Land is 
doubling in' value and the citizens are now; in a jirosperous condition finan- 
ciallv. Her schools and churches, which arc of the u]vto-date type, are 
treated in other separate chapters. 

PIOXEF.R SKTTl.E.M KXTS. 

While the following is not a complete list of all the men and women 
who sought homes here in the pioneer days, it gives the most of them in the 
years noted : 

,817.18 — In the winter of 181 7- 18 came (Ibediah Swayze. who occu- 
pied, as a "squatter," one of the three cabins just built by the Melts. He. 
however, remained as a permanent citizen. His remains now lie buried in 
Helt's Prairie cemetery, with his wife, two sons and a daughter. He had a 
grandson in 1887, living in Kansas City, whose name was Wesley Wright. 

i8t8— Daniel Helt, after whom the prairie and township were named. 
was born in Pennsylvania in 1791. was a soldier in the war of 181 2. under 
General Harrison, and died March 25. 1879. a good man and an acceptable 
member of the Methodist Episcoi)al church. George, John and Micliael 
Helt. all long since deceased. C. B. Thomas. Hiram. K. B. and F. M. Ilelt 
were all born here in pioneer times. Augustus Ford, from Ohio, long since 
deceased. His son John, born in Ohio, in 1800. came with him anrl died 
May 6. 1882, after having lived upon the farm first occupied for half a cen- 
tury. Mr. Rodney, from Maine. John Skidmore. who died at the age of 



406 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

eighty years. Hon. William Skidniore. born February 19, 1819, died in the 
eighties. 

George Skidmore was born in 1824 and Josiah Skidniore in 1831. 
Samuel Rush, father of James, who was born in Ohio in 1817. This year., 
or soon thereafter, C. C. Middle (or John Hiddle. according to one version) 
and John Martin came and Iniilt the first cabin on Riddle's Prairie. 

181Q — Samuel Ryerson. who died January 31. 1862. at Clinton. His 
wife Phebe died in the autumn of 1874, aged seventy-nine years. She was 
a remarkable woman. At the age of twelve years she had never heard one 
pray. At that time she attended a Methodist meeting, where the expected 
preacher did not arrive, and the class leader sang and prayed, which was the 
means of her conviction and conversion and she remained a zealous mem- 
ber of the church all of her life. She and her husband formed the first 
Methodist Episcopal class on Kelt's prairie, consisting of ei.ght persons, soon 
after their settlement here. A short time before her death she willed one 
thousand five hundred dollars to the missionary society, five hundred dollars 
to Asbur\- Unix'ersit}-. two hundred dollars to the educational fund of this 
county and two hundred dollars to the Biblical Institute at Evanston. Illi- 
nois, besides other sums to various indi\iduals. Mathew Harbison came this 
year. Joseph flarbison was boru in this township in 1834. 

1820 — Mr. Hood, father of Charles D. and S. S. Hood, both of whom 
were born in Tennessee in 1814 and 18 15, and they were still here in the 
late eighties. According to one authority. Joel Hollingsworth arrived in 
ITelt township this vear. 

1821 — Abraham and Enoch White. The latter was born in Kentucky 
in 1814. James Harper. Stephen Harrington, who was born in Ohio in 
1814, was a resident here during most of the county's existence. \\'arham 
(or "\\'iruni"') Mack, born in Ohio in i8oi. died here. The cither Macks 
came later. 

1822 — William Andrew, Sr., tanner and farmer, born in Ohio in 1807. 
and died of heart disease in 1870. two miles .southwest of St. Bernice. a 
member of the United Brethren church, John Conlev came the same \ear. 
M. A. Conlev. long a resident; was born in this township this year. James 
Conley. born in Ohio in 181 7. and William Conley were both pioneers here. 

1823 — Alanson Church, His son Josiah was born here September 29. 
1823, and died in January, 1884. two and a half miles west of Summit 
Grove. Eleven of his twelve children were still living in 1887. John Peer. 
Sr.. born in Virginia, has long since been decea.sed. John Peer. Jr.. a resi- 



PARKE AND XKRMII.I.KIN COUNTIES, INPTAXA. 4O7 

dent, was Ixirn here in 1834 The I'earnian faniilx', i)t the \(iun<;er nienibers 
(jf which John was still lixin,^- in 1886. 

1824 — John A'an Lamp, in \\ htxse house this \ear was the first electinn 
held in the township, mo\ed to Missouri. John Langston. father of Oliver 
Langston. William L. Malone. horn in Ohio in 1805. Richard, his son. 
born in Ohio in 1826. later residefl in Dana. 

1825 — Caleb Bales, Sr., from Virginia, died in 1836. Calel) l>ales, Jr.. 
was still li\ing in this township in the ei,ghties. William Bales was born in 
Virginia in 1827 and settled in this county in 18,^1. \^'illiam F. Bales was 
born in i82c>. Chandler Tillotson, who came to this county about the same 
period, died in this township. Daniel G. and G. B. Tillotson were born here 
in 1825. 

1826 — Edwin (or Edmund). William and Elijah James. S. R. Josejih. 
W. A. and S. R. James were all natives of this county and resided in Melt 
township. Mr. Keyes. father of Dr. C. F. Keyes, of Dana. The Doctor 
(the senior) was torn in Indiana in 1822. brought to Helt township, where 
he was reared. He became a competent physician, and died at Dana Febru- 
arv 8, 1884, leaving a wife and fi\e children. John \ an Dyn. born in Xew 
Jersey in 1803. Mr. Thompson came the same year. .\lso Mr. Rhoades. 
father of Stephen Rhoades, was born in Kenliickw- in 1822. William Kearn--. 
born in Kentucky in 1806, died in the seventies. His son John was born in 
1832. Samuel Pyle was two years old at this date, and was brotight here and 
became later an honored citizen of the townshi]). 

1827 — Washington Engram. born in Kentucky in i8r2. John O. Rog- 
ers, born in Helt township this year, later resided at the town of Dana. Asa 
Mack came in this year or the year just previously. His son. Dr. Erastus 
Mack, was born this year and another son, N. B. Mack, born in 1832. went 
to California. 

1828 — Joel Hollingsworth, born in South Carolina in 1801. died .May 
30, 1875, in this township. George Hollingsworth. a carpenter, was born in 
1827 in Indiana, and was brou.ght here in 1839. 

1829 — The h'rench family. Felix French, liorn here this year, went to 
Michigan. Samuel h'rench. long resident. Joseph and John Staats. broth- 
ers, were from Virginia. Israel and .\braham Leatherman were lads when 
thev arrived this year. Samuel Hoagland was born in this county in 1829, 
and was a citizen here for a lifetime. Wesley Southard was born in \'ir- 
ginia in 181 1. \\'illiam Russell. Sr.. born in X'irginia in 171)7. wa•^ --till 
living here in 1887. David and Mahlon Russell were born here, in 1830 
and 1833. 



408 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

1S30 — James. L. U'ishard. born in Kentucky in 1794, was a soldier in 
tlie war of 1812, and died about 1884. John O. Wishard, born in the same 
state in 1805, came in 1834 and has long been deceased. J. H. Wishard. a 
life-long resident, born in this year. James L. Payton, born in 1800. James 
Payton, born in 1835, also deceased. A. M. Payton was born in Kentucky 
in 1823 and was seven -^ears of age when brought liere. James A. Edmans- 
ton. born in Indiana in 182S, was brought here in 1830 and li\ed here many 
years, then moved to Illinois. Robert Norris, a native of South Carolina, 
born in 1796, died in this township in 1873. John T. Bowen. Sr.. horn in 
Tennessee in 1800, has been dead more than thirt\^ years. J. T. Bowen. Jr., 
was bom in this county in 183 1. Jacob Miller, born in Kentucky in 1818. 
Mary E. Miller, born in North Carolina in 1816,. came in 1831. John and 
O. R. Blakesley. born here in 1830 and 1833. remained residents until their 
death. 

1831 — Joseph Jones, born in Kentucky in 1810: Matthew Junes, born 
in North Carolina in 1818; Thomas Jones, shoemaker, born in the same 
state in 1820: and Wiley Jones, also of the same state, all came this year. 
\A''iIey. however, soon removed to Illinois. \A'iniam Jones, an old resident 
in 1886, was born in Indiana in 1829. 

1832 — James Andrews came to this township before 1834. Sarah 
Eliza Andrews, born in 1820. married Mr. Dethrick and moved West. Han- 
nah Andrews, born in Massachusetts in 1823. came to \'ermillion count}- in 
1839. John W. Reed, born in North Carolina in 1822. resided here from 
1832 until his death in September. 1885. at Dana. David Reed, born in 
North Carolina in 1825. was a resident here for many years. P. M. Stokes- 
berry. born in Ohio in t8o8, was deceased in 1886. James H. White was 
born in Tennessee in 1805. and O. J. ^\'hite was born this year in Helt 
township. William Higbee. born in Ohio in 1814. lived in the township 
until in the late eighties. 

1833 — J. S. Fisher, born in Kentucky in 1808. died thirty years and 
more ago. Benjamin. James and Joseph Fisher, pioneers and life-long citi- 
zens. Benjamin Miles, born in Kentucky in 1813: also a 'Sir. Foncannon, 
from Virginia. H. W. and John R. Roshstan, living at Dana for many years. 
James A. and Elder and James R. Finnell, the former from Ohio, and the 
latter from Kentucky, were both eleven vears of age when lirought liere in 

1833- 

1834 — Samuel Aikman, born in Indiana in 1814. was a long resident in 
Dana, this township. Robert McDowell, born in Kentucky in 1820. J. D. 
^IcDowell. born in A'ermillion coimtv in 1836. has been a h'fe-long resident. 



PARKE AND VEKMIl.l.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 4O9 

Mr. Johnson came in the same \ear. jnlm R. jnhnsnn. l)orn in Oliio in 
1833, was brought to this township in 1S34, ami S. Johnson was horn here 
in 1835. 

1835 — Samuel Tnllis, born in \'irginia in 1704. resided here until his 
death, at Bono, October 14, 1877. a member of the Christian ehureh. John 
Jenks, born in Vermont in 1804, died many years since in this townshi]). .S. 
Ponton, born in Virginia in 1787. John S. Ponton, born in Ohio in 1831. 
died a resident of the townshi]) in 1886. John Jackson, who had several 
sons, is deceased. Andrew Jackson, born in Ohio in T<>2;i,. was still a resi- 
dent here in 1888. Joseph Jackson: James C. Purson ; T-^aac X. Pul'ington. 
born in Kentucky in 1807. 

1836 — Cephas Mack, born in Massachusetts in 1815. died Ajiril 29, 
1885, in PTelt tow^nship. Plis brother, Spencer, born in the same state, in 
1818, settled here in 1838. hut died many years since. 

1837 — Benjamin TTarper, horn in \'ir<;inia in t70''i. died here in August. 
1877. John R. Porter, born in Massachusetts in 1824. died here in 1878. 
James F. Barnett. Sr.. born in Kentucky in 1815. after settlint^ here became 
a merchant in Eugene. 

1838 — Henrv Mitchell, blacksmith, was born in New ^'ork in i8oq. 
died in this township in June. 1881. William W. Price, born in Maryland in 
1811, was still a resident late in the eighties. ^^'. C. and Abel Randall, from 
Ohio, came the same year. 

1830 — William Thompson, born in Kentucky in 1818. died in the sjiring 
of 1887. Daxid D. Thompson, born in the same state in 1827-. died Febru- 
ary I, 1880. Frastus Crane, born in \'ermont in 1804. resided in Helt town- 
ship from T839 to the time of his death. Elijah and X. E. Taylor. Reuben 
Pufifer, F. S. Aye and many more came to this township that year. 

1840 — Stephen Milliken. born in Pennsylvania in 1803; J. T.. Powers, 
born in Virginia in 1803. Other very early settlers in Helt township in- 
cluded these : Samuel Rice. William Hays. Peter PTigbie. Henry Bogart. 
Richard. Isaac and Tohn Short. Carmack. etc.. all of whom have long since 
been numbered among the dead pioneers of \'ermillion county. 

ITEM.S OF INTEREST. 

The first white child born in Pleit township was Hon. \Ml!iam Skid- 
more, in 1819; and it is still an unsettled question whether he or John Van- 
nest, Jr., of Clinton township, was the first child born in \'ermilIion county. 

The earliest church building in this township was the Salem church, on 
Halt's prairie, erected in 1848. 



410 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

The first school taught on this i^rairie was prior to 1830. 

The first mill in Helt townsliip was built upon the hank of Coal brauL-h. 
a small stream that takes its rise in the central part of the township and 
flows southwest. This mill was built by William Anderson in 1836. but was 
abandoned more than a third of a century ago, and the stream that once fur- 
nished the w-ater power to propel its machinery now looks as though it would 
have been impossible to ha\e furnished sufficient power to run the machinerv. 

The old Davis ferry, at Opedee. three and a half miles below Newixjrt, 
was a famous place in early days, as it was the favorite jilace in earlv times, 
for crossing the Wabash ri\'er, for those who were traveling north, the sec- 
ond bottoms on the west side of the river afifording much better wagon roads 
than the east side. It was by this route that much of the teaming was done 
to Chicago, Ijefore canal and railroad days. 

FAMOUS FOX HUNTS. 

The first fox hunt of which there now seems to be any record in Ver- 
million county was that held March 31. 1883, when the citizens placed 
themselves, according to a pre-arranged plan, in a kind of a circle around a 
large section of territory, mostly in Helt township. At 9 130 in the fore- 
noon they started forward. All the marshals exercised due diligence to keep 
the men in proper shape, none of whom were allowed to be intoxicated or to 
carry a gun or ha\-e a dog with ihem. The east and north divisions, having 
to travel over a \er\- ])roken, hilly section of countr}-. and some of the men 
also disobeying orders, permitted eight fine foxes to escape. .\t eleven-thirtv 
o'clock men and boys could he seen in every direction, about eight hundred 
strong. a])proaching the center, and it was also observed at this moment that 
three red foxes were surrounded. Forming into a ring about fortv vards in 
diameter on the meadow near the Conley school house, three of the mo.st 
acti\'e young men entered the ring to capture the game by their unassisted 
hands. One fox, which was cri])pled in trying to pass out, was soon caught ; 
but the other two were chased for some time, when finalh- one of them broke 
the line where some women were standing and got awav. The remaining 
one, after being chased for some time by different ones, was finalK- caught 
by one Fred Ford. William Darnell was called for. who at auction sold the 
two foxes to the highest bidder, Richard Wimsett, of Opedee. Everv person 
present greatly enjoyed the day's sport. Having seen where thev erred in 
letting so many foxes away, they concluded March 1 3th. the next vear. to 
try it again, on a larger scale, but failed to ca])ture a single fox. and made 



PARKE x\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 4I I 

up tlieir niiiuls tliat there were no more foxes left in the lerrit<ir\- to catch. 
They encircled parts of Helt aiiil \'erniillion towiishiiis. 

licit township has an area of seventy-two square miles, twelve nore 
than any township in X'ermillion county. In t88o its ])o])ulation was 3,027 
and its jiersonal projierty was \alued at $1,411,743. In njro its population 
was ,v34.v includin.!.^ 1 )an.i with 74S po])ulation. The assessed \-a!ue of all 
personal and real estate propertx' within the township in i(;ii was. accord- 
ing to the county records, $3,202,720, and Dana with ,$480, 393, 

The rural development of Meh township is hex'ond anvthins; within 
the count}-. Its broad acres of prairie lands now present one iLjrand jiano- 
rama of agricultural scenes. The farm buildings are modern and well kept up. 
The land is rich and well tilled by the thrifty farmers, a majority of whom 
live on and work their own places. Stock and poidtry and fruit are seen on 
e\'ery hand. Alanv of the early settlers were of the Society of l'"i-iends and 
their descendants lia\e kept ])ace with the progress of the age, and besides 
carrying out the frugal methods of life inherited from their sturdy an- 
cestors, they have also followed on in the march of civilization and prog- 
ress. To be the possessor of a farm in this goodly section of lloosierdom 
is to be known as an independent man. 

The gravel highways and the excellent system of jiublic schools found 
within the borders of this township bespeak well for its thrift and enter- 
])rising citizenship. The 1 lelt township consolidated school, mentioned in 
the Educational chapter in this work, is one of the monuments of good 
sense and advancement to the people of this townshij). It was years ago 
known 1)v the state authorities as a "'model consolidated school." The 
changes wrought out in this township since the days of 1S18. nearly a hun- 
dred vears ago, are indeed wonderful to contemplate. Today the farmer 
has his improved machinery, his daily mail brought to his very door, his 
lelephonc with which to send a speedy message to the doctor, or to his friend 
and neighbor: also he may ride in closed storm-buggies and automobiles. 
He may ])hone to the village and have the rural po.stal carrier bring to his 
farm house a parcel by the recently established parcel i)Ost system. These 
and inanv others are included in the great improvements to be enjoyed in 
these the o]>ening vears of the second decade of the twentieth century. 

The tcjwns and villages of Helt town.ship are ipiite numerous, but none, 
aside from Dana, are of anv considvrable size. 



412 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

TORONTO. 

This is the name of an old postoffice at the village called Bono in the 
southwestern part of this township. The \ illage v.as started in 1848. by 
Tilly Jcnks and a few more, and at a time when the site was covered with a 
thick growth of timber and underbrush. Tlie first store was established by 
James Bacon, between 1850 and i8(io. In the .spring of 1863, Edward Eng- 
lish established a grocery store, selling out in August of the same year to 
Erancis I\I. .\ustin, who as late as 1887 was ruiming at that point a good- 
sized general store. John E. Hays was also in trade there at that time, ^^'hile 
the place was ne\er laid out or platted, it had most of the elements of a vil- 
lage pro]ier. save the organization formality. In 1885 it had a population of 
about eighty [)ersons. with one jjhysician. three churches (Presbyterian. Bap- 
tist and Methodist), one churcli building, a school house, blacksmith shop 
and a ])ost of the Grand Army of the Republic. The ])resent population is 
only about seventy-five. The postoffice was established here in 1871, with 
Francis M. Austin as postmaster, and he held the office many years. Bono 
was a postoffice established before Toronto was, and it was located a mile 
and a half tn the north, and ^vas discontinued on account of there being an- 
other by the same name in Indiana. 

JONESTOWN. NOW ST. BERNICE. 

What was originally styled Jones, but changes to Jonestown, on ac- 
count of another by that name in this state, was situated in the southwestern 
part of Helt township, and was named for Philip Jones, who owned a jwr- 
tion of the land on which it stood. It was laid out in Ci\il A\ar da\s about 
1862, by Jones & \\'ellman. A log cabin was upon the site, and also a bet- 
ter dwelling, erected by Dr. Grimes the previous year. The pioneer store 
was Oldened by John .\mmerman. In the eighties, about twenty -five years 
ago. there were two general stores, one drug store, a grocery store, a flour- 
ing-mill. biu'lt in 1879, a blacksmith shop, a carpenter and cabinet-maker, a 
post of the Grand Army of the Republic, a brick schoolhouse. a L'nited 
Brethren church, one physician, a justice of the peace, a constable, and a 
postoffice, named St. Bernice, there being another Jonestown in the state. 
The office was established in 1863. with Dr. Wilson Grimes as postmaster. 
St. Bernice has now a population of about one hundred and fifty, or did have 
in 191 2 when the last census was taken. It is a station on the Chicago. Terre 
Haute & Southeastern railroad. 



PARKE AND NERMII.LION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 413 

llILLSnAI.E. 

This is a heauti fully silualctl Htt'o hamlcl un the \vc-~t hank n\ ihc Wa- 
bash river, at the extreme eastern eml nt the township, and is the crussinj^ 
point of the two railroads, the Chicago & Eastern Illinois and the Cincinnati, 
Hamilton & Dayton (now B. ,*v: O. sy.stcm). Hillsdale is located in section 
2, township 15, range () west, ami was laid out in 1873 by E. Montgomery. 
The hr>t house w^as erected by 1 lart ^b)ntgomery, ;ind during the same vear 
he and his son established the first store, it being a general merchandise 
stock. A saloon came in next and the business of liquor selling has been a 
perpetual cur.se to the town from that day to this. Levi Bonebrake built 
the third house in the village. At one time there was a union depot fur tlie 
two roads, but several years ago one was provided for each railroad, and the 
improved block system of switches was put in to insure safety in train ser\- 
ice. The business interests have always been at the foot of the hill, near the 
two railroads, while the town's residences are nicel_\- situated on the hi'l. or 
really the third bench from the ri\er, the railrtiads occupying the second 
bench. The view from the heights is indeed splendid. There one finds 
numerous good ilwellings, a neat church and school house. Just south from 
Hillsdale. ])roper, is what was once known as .\lta. It is on the south side 
of I.ittle Raccoon creek. The two \illages arc now known as one. The 
population, in 19 12, is about two hundred and seventy -five. The unwritten 
historv of this village would, if trulv depicted, be of more interest than th.at 
which is known to tlie ])ul)lic. 1 lere many scenes of good and ill deeds have 
been enacted in the passing of the decades since the place had a name. Some 
might well be remembered and perpetuated, while many another transaction 
had better be forever buried in the shades of deep oblivion. 

In the autumn of 1912 there were the following business houses in 
Hillsdale: One drug store, three general stores, a grocery and meat shoj), 
the posti>ffice, barber shoj), millinery store, an exclusive grocery, two or 
more restaurants, a hotel, three boarding houses, etc. The Methodist E.pisco- 
pal church was erected of cement blocks in 1904, and is a fine structure, 
standing on the high hii! overlooking the valley. Here has re- 
sided for a half century pioneer John Wesley Casebeer, father of Dr. Case- 
beer, of Newport. After a wedded life of fifty-seven years. Mrs. Casebeer 
laid down the Imrdens of life a year or so ago. The inlluence exerted upon 
the village bv this worthy couple has been great. P.oth have been constant 
and loval workers in the Methodist Episcopal church. 



414 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

At tilis i)oint mineral resources are good, consisting of coal, liuilding 
stone and excellent fire-clay. A mile to the north, at West Montezuma, is a 
large fire-brick factory. Iniilt in the early seventies and still doing an excel- 
lent and extensive business. It was originally built by Messrs. Burns, Por- 
ter & Collett. To the south of Hillsdale are other important clav industries. 
There is the National Tile and Drain Works, an immense plant making mil- 
lions of brick and tile annually. 

The church, lodge and school history of this part of the countv is treated 
under regular chapter headings on these topics. 

HIGHLAND. 

W hat was known at a \ery earlv da\" as Highland was a hamlet one mile 
to the north of Hillsdale, and at one time had a population of one hundred 
and fifty. It was one of the oldest trading points in A'ermillion countw ba\- 
ing been in pioneer stage-coach days a station on the route from Lafayette 
to Terre Haute. It had a postoffice for many years. l)ut when Hillsdale 
sprung into existence, by reason of the railroads, the ]^ostal business and of- 
fice was transferred to the last named place, the name nf the ])ostofhce also 
being then changed. 

.SUMMIT GROVE. 

This is a hamlet situated in Helt township, on the northwest i|uarter 
of section 26. and the northeast quarter of section 27. tnwnshi]! 13, range 9 
west. It was sur\-eved bx' .\. Fitch. March 14, i<S7i. It now has a ]iopula- 
tion of about eighty. It is a small station on the line ni the Chicago & l*last- 
ern Illinois railroad. Here the first house was built by .\. H. Depuy, in the 
early spring of 1872. The next was a residence for N. T. Leiton. built the 
same veai'. The first blacksmith shop was opened liv Otho Chamliers. In 
1872 A\'illiam Skidmore built bis warehouse at this ]:)(iint. and it burned the 
same vear, when another was erected by Leiton & Depuy. There is_ nothing 
of much commercial impiirtance at Summit Grove. 

THE TOWN OF D.\N.\. 

Dana. Cayuga and Newport all rank about the same in size and com- 
mercial importance in Vermillion county. The population in 19 10 was. 
Cayuga, 832 ; Dana, 748, and Newport, y^^J. In Dana, perhaps, there is a 
little more of the true spirit of modern enterprise exhibited than in the other 
two towns named. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. INDLWA. 41^ 

Geograpliicall\ , Dana is situated two and a half miles east of the Illi- 
nois-Indiana state line, in Helt township. The recurds show that it was 
platted in section 26, townshij) 16. ran.^e 10 west. In Saninel and j, 13. Aik- 
nian, Samuel P). Kaufman ami II. 1'.. Hammond, the date being- .\ugust iS. 
1874. It is also known that Samuel Aikman donated a half interest in forty 
acres of land, John B. .Vikman a half interest in twenty acres, and Air. Kauf- 
man a half interest in twenty acres. Besides this, the.se gentlemen donated 
one thousand fi\e hundred dollars in cash. The land thus donated Ijccame 
the town plat. 

Dana was the result of the construction of the railrcuul then known as 
the Indianapolis, Decatiu- & -Springfield compan\ , which later was known 
by \arious titles, and until 1912 was called the Cincinnati. Hamilton (!<; Day- 
ton railroad, now the property of the Baltimore & Ohio compan\-. 

The first building was erected on the new town ]jlat in 1875, a frame 
structure by W. 'SI. Taylor, in which he kept a general store and the jiost- 
office. In a former description of Dana written in 1886, we find these 
words: "Dana is the most rapidly growing town in A'ermillion county, com- 
prising a shrewd and enterprising class of business men, and surrounded by 
an unnsuallx' good agricultural country," 

The town was incorporated in January, 188^1. The first officers were: 
John Linn, president: D, W, Finney and W. T. Davis, trustees; H. Wells, 
clerk; J. E. Bilsland. treasurer, and John Alaloiir, marshal. .\t present the 
town officers are as follows: The board is made u]) of the president, !'.. 1'. 
Collier; members, II. L. Fillinger, J. M. White, ( .. I-. ( Ireen, .\. H. Xicholes: 
Sanford Taylor, clerk and treasurer; Richard Rus.^ell, maisbal ; school board, 
Oscar \. Adams, Bert Thompson, Dr. D. W. Jones. 

In 1906-07 an electric light plant was installed, at a cost of $7,875, and 
it was burned in 1911, the insurance collected and a new plant built. Bonds 
were issued for this improvement running ten years, and now the town owes 
$5,000 on its outstanding bonds, which are jiayable one ihous.and dollars an- 
nuallv. 

In 1912 a system of sewage was completed which consists of a twenty- 
four-inch tiling drain from the heart of town west six thousand feet, to a 
point along the railroad track> where it empties into a large ditch. Its fall 
in this mile and a half is about eighteen feet. The exi>ense of this recent 
improvement in Dana was about $5,610, of which $2,983 is yet unpaid. It 
is assessed up against the lot owners of the corporation, and they alone will 
be allowed to u.se the same. 

The town hall of Dana is on Front street, built in 1900 at a cost of about 



4l6 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

$1,400. The first floor is used for an engine house and the upper story for 
council rooms, etc. A town jail is in connection with this building. The 
fire company uf Dana is a volunteer one, headed by Chief Albert Brooks. 
There are few fires in Dana. There are no public wells or cisterns, things 
greatly needed ; however, the\' will soon be provided. 

I9I.2 BUSINESS INTERESTS. 

In the month of December, 191 2, the following were the business in- 
terests of the enterprising, clean and thriving town of Dana : 

Attorneys — George D. Sunkel, J. P. York, Frank Smith, Ed. B. James. 

Banking — The First National Bank, and the State Bank of Dana. 

Barber Shops — Lewis Brothers and H. N. Wheeler. 

Blacksmiths — Charles Hutson, Carl \'an Du)n, Lo\vrey & Mahan. 

Coal Dealer — L. O. Osmon. 

Dentist— W. M. Jones. D. D. S. 

Dry Goods — William Rhoades & Son, Dar Andrews. 

Department Store — M. F. Collier. 

Dray Line — Nichols & Wallace. 

Draper Acet}lene Light Gas Machine Manufacturing Company. 

Furniture — John W. Redman. 

Groceries — Messrs. Gudgel, Collier, Thomas Clark and B. F. Long. 

Grain— W. F. Gilbert & Son. 

Garage — Charles Cooper. 

Harness — Stanton Nichols. J. C. Hardy. 

Hotel — Dana House, Thomas Smith. 

Hardware — J. B. Fillinger & Son, J. C. Hardy, James Reed and Tomie 
Brothers. 

jeweh-}- — R. H. Manzey. 

Lum])er — R. W. Rowley & Son. 

Livery — Messrs. Crawford, Gass, Thomas and Judd. 

Milliner}' — Hattie Brown, Minnie Eaton. 

Moving Pictures — Claude Malone. 

Meat ALnrket — J. G. Davis. 

Newspaper — The News, by John Jordan. 

Phvsicians — Drs. O. M. Keyes. Daniel S. Strong, G. C. Prichett, \\'. C 
Myers. 

Photographer — \\'. A. .Smith 

Theater — The Opera Hall, by Tomie Brothers. 

Veterinaries — ^John Gass and two others. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

IIIGHI.AND TOWNSHIP. 

Highland is the exlrciiK- norlhern .sub-division of N'erniillion county. 
Its northern boundary is the hue between Vermillion and Warren county. 
To the east is the Wabash river, marking the line between Vermillion and 
Park^ counties. This, like the other four townships of this coimty. extends 
from the eastern to the western side of W'rn.iillion county. it contains 
sixty .s(|uarc miles. In 1880 this township hatl a population of -^,433, and an 
assessed valuation of personal property amounting to $1,400,000. The 
United States census for 1910 gives the township a population of 1,845. •" 
191 1 the county records show that there was an assessed valuatii^i of Sj.- 
465,000 in this township. 

Perrysville, Rileysburg and Ciessie are small towns and \ illages within 
this civil township. The "Big Four" railroad passes through the northwest- 
ern corner of Highland township. A further account of the towns and \il- 
lages appears elsewhere in this chapter. 

The date of arrival of the pioneers to this i)art of \'ermillion county is 
indicated by the years at the head of the following paragraphs: 

1822 — G. S. Hansicker, born in N'irginia in i^ij-', died here about 1885. 
His son, H. C. Hansicker, was born in this county in 1832. (ieorge Hicks, a 
soldier of the Rexolutionary war. was ( some say ) a pioneer in this townshii). 
but possibK- this is an error; he r.ia\ ha\e ser\ed in the war of 1812. for 
there is an account of George W. Hicks, a native of Massachusetts, born 
1795, and who died here in 1878. Another settler of about 1822 was Jacob 
Hain, of Pennsylvania, born in 1799, and died in this count)-. 

1823 — David Goff, born in Connecticut in 1709. remained a resident here 
until his death, September 7, 1881. His brother Almond died here about 
1867, and another brother, Brainard, moved to Laporte. Indiana, where he 
died. His son Philander, born in 1834 in this township, was still a resident 
here in the eighties. Another .settler that year was Lemon Cbennwith. who 
for many years resided at Perrysville, this township. 

1824 — John Chenowith settled on the Wabash, died in 1857. He was 
the father of Lemon, just mentioned, and also of lliram, an older son. 

(27) 



4lS PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Thomas Chenow ith was a member of the constitutional convention in. 1850, 
and Isaac Chenuw ith was state senator in 1844-45. Isaac was Ixjrn in Ken- 
tucky in 1794, arrived here in March, 1825, and died in April, i85(). William 
Chenciwith, born in Ohio in 1823, was brought here in 1832 and always re- 
sided in this county. Solomon M. Jones, born in Tennessee in April, 181 2, 
died March 15, 1887, leaving a family of ten children. He was a soldier in 
the Black Hawk war. John N. Jones, Sr., was born in September, 1809, 
came here at a xery early date, was a partner of J. F. Smith in milling and 
merchandising business for many years, and died here in June, 1874. Will- 
iam Skinner, from Ohio, came in 1824, and died a few years later. His son 
Xorman was born in Ohio in 1816, and died here about 1880. Thomas 
Wright, who it is said brought the first hogs into X'ermillion county, was a 
settler that year, alsu. One of his o.xen dying, he cultivated his first cro]) of 
corn with a single ox. Milton Wright was born here in i!^32. Both he and 
his ])rother Stephen were the sons of Thomas Wright. 

1825 — John Fultz, above Perrys\'ille, settled here and died many years 
later. His sons were John. Andrew and William \'., all long since deceased. 
Also .Allen Rodgers, from New Hampshire, died in Iowa or Wisconsin many 
years ago. J. AT. Rodgers, his son, l)orn in New Hamjishire in 181 3, died 
here in the spring of 1887. 

1826 — James Blair, who had first settled in luigene township, <lie(l at 
Perrysville, Ma}- 11, 1861, aged seventy-nine years. Robert D. Moffatt, born 
in New Jersey in 1812, for man\- years a merchant at Perrysville. at which 
place he retired in 1874. David Beauchamp, in range 10, had a large family 
and died about 1873. John W. Beauchamp was born in Ohio in 1821 ; An- 
drew, his brother, born in 1828 in this county, remoxed to Illinois. Hiram 
Shaw, born in Ohio in 1803: E. G. Shaw, tern in this county in 1830, was 
still living in" 1887. 

1827 — Benjamin Whittenmyer, born in Pennsyhania in 1799, died in 
1879. The parents of Harvey Hunt, who was born in Indiana in 1820, was 
an old pioneer and a most excellent citizen. William Fleshman also was a 
.settler of 1827. His son Amos, still living in 1888, was born in Indiana in 
1822. 

1828 — Jonas Metzger, a soldier of the war of 1812, from Ohio, died 
here February 9, 1872. aged se\'enty-eight years. He first located in Eugene 
township, and in Highland in 1833. Constantine Hughes, from Virginia. 
His son Ehud, born in Virginia in 1817. was still living here in 1888. Israel, 
W^illiam and John Hughes were pioneers of Coal Branch country. 

1829 — W^illiam Nichols, born in Virginia in 1809, was still residing here 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COINTILS, INDIANA. 419 

in lifS/. AJoses, Cliarles and Daniel Bowman, tnim \'irt;inia. Daniel re- 
mained here nntil liis deatli and Charles died in llic West. j. S. Stutler. 
burn in Ohio, settled here ami died in this low iislii]). h'.zekiel Sanders, horn 
in \'irginia in 1827, died Jnh' 10, 1875. He first settled in Kn^ene Idwii- 
ship, and later moved to Hi.^hland. 

1830 — Richard Shnte, father uf Daniel, jolni and l''.])hrainL settled this 
year in Highland tnw iisliip. h'lisha X. Reynolds, horn in Mar\land in 1S04. 
died in this township in the eighties. ( i. II. Reynolds, horn in 1835. was an 
old and honored resident of this township in 1887. John Tate, horn in Ohio 
in 1807, sur\i\-e(l until the nineties. Tliomiis J. Mitchell, horn in ( )hio in 
1808, resided many years at l'err\>\ illc. James A. Pvather, horn in Keii- 
tnckv in 1814, died here in 18SO. Another settler of 1830 was |ose|)li I'.riner. 
of I'errysville. 

183T — Herbert Ferguson, horn in Virginia in .Septemlier, \J')'.). died 
here lanuar\- _'Ci, 1877. h^jhraim lietzer, fi-oni ( )hio. came in ])rc\'ious to 
1831, Jacob Betzer was born in 1803 in ( )hio, died .about 18N3. .\;n"on ISet- 
zer moved to the far West. 

1832 — Captain Andrew Dennis, ,1 boatman, born in .\ew Jersey in 1801. 
died in Dan\ille, Illinois, in the earh- eighties, lohn Hoohler. a L'nited 
Brethren minister, born in I'ennsyhania in 1801, died in Illinois. \\'illiam 
Trosper, bom in Kentucky in 1808, died in this town.ship in December. 1886. 
Xehemiah Cossew from .Maryland, came first to I'arkc couutv and in 1832 
to this county: died long ago. His son I'eter, liorn m that state in 1812. is 
also deceased. Fielding Rabourn, horn in KciUucky in 1813, died here in the 
eighties. \Miliain H. Carithers from Ohio, long since died in this townshi]); 
he was the father of Jonathan, b'r.auk and llcnry, all living in the county in 
1887. William Callihan, a potter by trade, mo\ed from Ohio, settled here 
and later removed to Danville. .M. B. Carter, who was county recorder in 
1887 in this connty, was born in 1832. 

1833 — J. ]•'. Will, William 1'., Thomas II.. ( i. II. and David Smith, 
from Virginia, all became settlers this year. Thomas (iouty came 1832 or 
183V ^''f'' f""*^ 'f^' ■'^'^^.V ''',yffl sixty-one years. His son h'lias was horn in 
this townshii) in 1833. Henry (iouty may have settled in the township two 
or three years later: he died in 18(14. David (ionly wa> the son of Henry 
and Rebecca Gontv. lohn S. Kil])atrick, a miller, born in Kentucky in 1812. 
lived at Gessie for a time, and moved to Danville, where he died. Xorman 
Cade died soon after his arrival in the township. His son David later re- 
moved from this connty. Jacob (iivens, born in \irginia in 1813. died in 
this townshi]). The same year came James Hansen, lather of Smith Hansen. 



420 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

1834 — Jacob Rud}-, born in Switzerland in 1S18, died here in the earl)' 
eighties. Alartin Rudy, his father, died here se\eral years afterward. Others 
who came in that year were Peter Switzer; his son Wesley, born in Ohio in 
1 82 1, was still an honored resident in 1888. 

1835 — Thomas Moore, who died in 1843, ^^''^ the father of Joseph and 
Washington. T. H. Harrison, born in \'irginia in 1810, was still a resident 
of this township in the late eighties. 

1836 — John R. and George H. AIcNeill, from Maryland, the former 
born in 181 1 and the latter in 1818. Lewis and John Butler, from Ohio, the 
former bom in 1813. and the latter in iSi(): Lewis was deceased in 1886, 
when John was still living in \erniilIion township. Elijah Roseberry, who 
died in 1857, aged fifty-one years. Thomas Cushman, born in New York in 
1814, was living at Xewi)ort in 1887: he had served as county auditor. 

1837 — James J. Lewis, born in Maryland in 1805, still residing in this 
township in the late eighties. He was the father of J. A. Lewis and Joshua 
Lewis; the latter lived at Cayuga many years. Robert J. Gessie, born in 
Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1809, was residing here in 1887. -^'i" 
other old citizen was Charles Chezem. born in Indiana in 1827. 

1838 — Walter B. Moffatt, a native of Indiana, born in 1822, died Au- 
gust 14, 1882. Horatio Talbert, long since deceased, was the father of 
Henry, born in Pennsylvania in 18 16 and died in this township in the middle 
of the eighties. Samuel Harris, born in \'irginia in 1819. moved to another 
section of the country. 

1839 — John Dunlap, dece^ised. born in Ireland in i8o(;. Others who 
settled that year were Samuel Swingley and Samuel W'att, from Ohio. 

Other pioneers in this township \vere J. F. Smith, John N. Jones, mer- 
chants and millers; Joseph Cheadle, father of Joseph B., who served in Con- 
gress from this district, was born May 9, 1789, in one of the Eastern states, 
and died in this township June 19, 1863; William B. Palmer, who died about 
1876. 

It was stated in 1887 that there \vere liut three keeping house in High- 
land township who were in that relation in 1833. ^vhen Thomas H. Smith set- 
tled, he being the man who made this statement. These three were Mrs. 
Chestie Hain, Adaline V. Jones and Mrs. Glover. 

TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP. 

Perrysville was laid uut in 1826, b\' James Blair, on a pleasing situation 
on the banks of the gentlv winding \\'abash. and named by him in honor of 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 42I 

the commander of tlie Lake Erie lleet in i8iJ, Commodure U. iJ. Perry. 
For many years this was the largest town within the Hmits of VermilHon 
county. For a time it w as ahead of Danville, Illinois — really until the present 
railroad system was projected. Since then it has lacked thrift, enterprise and 
growth. It was said thirty years ago that "the passing days are like one 
eternal Sabbath, (jrass and weeds have overgrown the streets and the lovely 
shade trees continue to do their sweetest duty." There is a station a little 
to the west uf the old town, .\mong the enterprising men who were engaged 
in business here in the more palmy days of the town's history may be re- 
called J. F. and T. H. Smith, J. N. Jones and Robert Moffatt. The old 
warehouses and grist-mill were used to some advantage in 1890. The\- were 
built and operated man)- years by Smith & Jones. Jones also Ituilt another 
grist-mill at the wharf, but it was burnt down many years since. March 31, 
1884, occurred the largest conflagration ever experienced in the place. It en- 
tirely destroyed the three chief Inisiness bl6cks, two story liricks; these were 
the property of Smith Brothers. The fire originated in the roof of an adjoin- 
ing building. By this fire the Masonic hall, with all of its valual)lc records 
and paraphernalia, was destroyed. 

A few vears after the close of the Civil war, the Perrysville Woolen 
]\Iills were erecte<l in the western ])orli()n of the tuwn by Ri.ggs, Head & 
Com])anv, who furnished the machinery mainly fmm Covington. Indiana, in 
which jjlace thev had previously operated a factory. The I'errysville factory 
was operated until 1S81. but with only ])artial success. It stood idle a year or 
more and was then purchased In !'.. (). Carpenter, who converted it into a 
mill, having two run of stones for wheat grinding. It was an excellent llour- 
ing-mill ])lant, and had a capacity of about eiglity l)arrels i>er day. 

In an historic account of this town, written in 1886. it is learned: ■11. 
S. Comingmore & Son's Perrysville Stove Works, in the southern i)ari of 
town, is a modern, neat establishment. It is in a brick building, erected in 
June. 1884. Its twii wings are for foundry and finishing rooms. The firm 
started in business in Perrysville, in 1858, in a small frame building." 

.\t the time above named— about 1887— there was then running the Per- 
rysville Creamery, on the bank of the Waba.'ih. It had a capacity of two 
thousand pounds of butter iier week. I-:. .\. I.acey was secretary and sujier- 
intendent. while J. F. Compton was president of the company. 

Perrysville was incorporated in January. 1881. and its first officers were: 
First ward. William Collins: second ward. John R. McNeill; third ward. 
Samuel Shaner. W. M. Benfield was elected clerk: Rezin Metzger. assessor: 
Lewis A. Morgan, treasurer: Peter S. Moundy. marshal. In the fall of 



422 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

1884 the question of whetlier the corporation should )je cnntinued or not was 
up to a vote hy the citizens of the place, and resulted by a small majority in 
favor of letting the municipality go down. It is not now an incorporated 
place, but a quiet, orderly country village, where many of the older inhabit- 
ants live on the past glory of former days ! 

In 1910 the population of Perrysville was six hundred, and there were 
the usual numljer of stores and shops for a town of its location and size. Of 
the churches, schools and lodges, for which the place has ever been noted, 
otiier general chapters will treat under their appropriate headings. 

VILL.\.GE OF GESSIE. 

Gessie is a village on the railroad, three miles northwest of Perrysville 
station. It was laid out in 1872 by Robert J. Gessie and named for him. In 
1887 this place had a population of one hundred and forty. The 19 10 United 
States census bulletin gives it as ha\'ing one hundred and fiftv. 

Dr. William Isaiah Hall, who purchased the first town lot in the place, 
also erected the first building. He was still practicing medicine in the place 
in 1888. His partner was for many years Dr. James Barnes, who afterward 
])racticed alone in the Aillage. Early business men were J. C. Stutler. with a 
general .store; L. A. McKnight. general store and grain dealer: D. M. Hughes, 
drugs and groceries: John Cade, postmaster, drugs and groceries: A. \'an 
Sickle, blacksmith ; Silas Hughes, wagon and repair shop ; C. L. Randall, 
painter and jobber: John Haworth. .station agent: H. C. Smith & Companv. 
proprietors of .tile factory: this was built in 1884 and the first vear's output 
of the ])lant was six thousand dollars' worth of tile. 

Rileysburg. formerly called Riley, is a flag station twu miles northwest 
of Gessie, where in the eighties there were already a postoffice, store and a tile 
factorv. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



VF.K.MII.I.IO.V TOWN SI I II'. 



X'cniiillion is the central civil township within N'erinillion county, hoth 
takin.i;- their name from the \'ermillion river. The countv seat. Xewixnt. is 
within this suh-clivision of the county, also the little station hamlet of ( )])C(lcc. 
The township contains forty-five .square miles. In i8So its populatinn was- 
2,215: its i)ersonal pro])erty was then valued at $1 .o.Sb.ooo. The census of 
1910 t;ivcs the population of tlie township as 1.974. includini; the town of 
X'ewport. which was listed at 748. The total i)ersonal and realty assessed 
valuation of property in the township in 1911 was $1. 940, 000. thai in .\ew- 
port being" $486,395. For an account of the towns, villages, schools, churches 
and lotlges within \ ermillion township, the rcailer is referred to special and 
general chapters on these subjects within this \(ilume. 

riONEKK SETTI.F.M KNT. 

Jt is not certain who constituted the first settlers in the township now- 
known as \'ermillion. Illy kept records, the lapse of many years, and the little 
attention paid by former generations to making note of such things, makes 
it verv difficult to establish beyond a doubt just who was really the first to 
establish a home and residence in the township. lUn it will suffice, for all 
practical ])urposes. to state that the first scttler> included lliese whose names 
follow : 

Richard and Susan (Henderson) llaworth. who, some claim, were the 
first couple to locate in the tnwnshi]), came in from Tennes.see in the autumn 
of 1820, .Mr. Haworth died in 1850. aged fifty-seven years, and his wife 
died in 1854, also aged fifty-seven years. 

In 1S21 came |;ic1 hicken. fmm I'rairie treek, Kentucky, settling where 
Newport now stands. His .son. P.enjamin K., long a resident in the vicinity, 
was horn in 1818 and died about i88() in either Michigan or Wisconsin. 

In 1S21 Iose])h l\ggleston. father of .\ttorney William I'-ggleston, came 
to this townslnp and died after many years residence. John I.. h:ggleston 
was Ix)rn in 1827 and resided in Newport. 

In 1822, it is suppo.scd that John Wimsett, of X'irginia, lucatcd here. 



424 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Jacob Wimsett, born January 8, 1827, was still a highly respected citizen 
there in 1887. The same }ear came in Jacob Custar and located about one 
mile and a half above X''e\vport. Philemon Thomas came that year and re- 
mained until his death in i860. Nathan Thomas was h\e vears old when 
brought to this township in 1827. 

In 1823 Carter and Catherine Hollingsworth, of North Carolina, came 
into the township. Mrs. Hollingsworth died in 1880, aged eight}'-eight y^rs. 
Eber Hollingsworth, born in L'nion county, Indiana, in 1822, was brought 
to this county the next year. In 1887 he was a well-known, well-to-do farmer 
and stock trader, two miles west of Newport. Henrv Hollingsworth. born 
in this state in 1830. died in the latter eighties at Newport. 

In 1824 ,\nna, widow of A\ illiam Henderson. Jjecame a resident of this 
county. 

Adam Zener, born in Kentucky in 1803, came to Clark county. Indiana, 
in 1812, and in 1826 to Vermillion county, where he remained until his 
death, March 14, 1877; was a member of the IMethodist Episcopal church. 
Either in 1826 or the following year, came Philip \\'. Osmon, born in Ken- 
tucky in 1803. His son Archibald \\'., born 1829, became a well-known far- 
mer ten miles southwest of Newport. Jabez B., another son, born in 1836 
at Newport, was a well-known man in his day. 

In 1827 came Richard Potts, who served as sheriff of this county tw'O 
terms, died in 1875. 

Robert Wallace, a native of A'irginia, became a resident of Vermillion 
county and located in this township in 1828, and died at Newport May jy. 
1881, aged ninety-one years. He was a man of fine physical ajjpearance and 
was never sick to exceed a week during his manhood's days. William Wal- 
lace, who Avas born in Ohio in 181 7. was aljout eleven years of age when he 
was brought to this county. He died in the eighties. 

Joshiia Nixon, born in Ohio in 1813, came to Newport this year and re- 
sided until his death. May 23, 1875. a faithful member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. 

James Asbury, born in Virginia in 1815, was another settler of about that 
day ; also came about that time, Aaron Jones, from New Jersey, and William 
Jones, from Union county, Indiana. Samuel Jones, a native of Ohio, came in 
1830 to this township, and died in 1881. George Brindley, a native of Ken- 
t\icky, lx)rn in 1800, died in 1878, came here in 1828. 

In 1829 came Robert Stokes: also Samuel Davis, of Ohio, born in 1811, 
was still an active citizen of Newport in 1888. 

Among the settlers of this township in 1830 was Jacob Sears, who emi- 



PARKE AND VKRMILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 425 

grated from Xnrtli Carolina, and died in 1859. aged eighty-five years. Thomas 
J. Brown, a native of Kentucky, horn 1801, died in this township. Ross 
Clariv. another settler ni 1830, was horn in Ohio in 1797. and died here in 
1878. William L. Tincher. a settler of 1830, was born in Kentucky in 1814, 
was living in Montezuma in the eighties. About the same date came in Will- 
iam \\'. Doss, born in Kentuckx in 1817. He moved over to ]\Iontezunia. An- 
other 1830 immigrant to the township was Robert S. Xorris. from South 
Carolina, who died in 1877, aged seventy-three years. Other lifelong resi- 
dents of this township who came in 1830. when children, were Richard and 
John \\'. Clearwater, John T,. White. James IT. ITutson and ( ieorge Weller. 

In 1831 came William Nichols, born in \'irginia in 1804. died October 
II, 1876. Isaac and Henry Nichols, .sons of William, were brought here in 
an earl}- day. lived here manv years, and lioth died before 1887. Isaac and 
Alarv Carmack, from Tennessee, settled in the Lebanon neighborhood. He 
died in 1863. .Vlfred, a .son. born in Tennessee. January 8. 1814. died May. 
1817; and Andrew, another son, .settled at Dana, this county. Henry Wilter- 
mood, born in Indiana in 1821. Charle> Herbert, tnuii Kentucky: his son, 
William I., l)orn in 1819, settled and was living in 1886 on section 27 of this 
townshi]). lohn Henderson, who came the same year la.st named for settle- 
ment, located on section 7. 

The settlement of 1832 included these: 11. F. Jackson, born in Ohio in 
1798, died in ^lissouri. John Jackson and wife Lydia, from Ohio: the latter 
died in Decmeber, 1880, aged seventy-four years. Joseph Jackson, from 
England, died here before 1886. Ezra Clark, born in Ohio. 181 1. in his 
later years resided in Highland. John G. CTib.son. born in Ohio in 1810. 
lived in this township until his death. Julius Rogart. born in Tennessee in 
181 1, was .still residing in the township in 1886. William B. Hall, who died 
in 186^. aged forty-two vears. James .\. Elder, horn in Brown county, Ohio, 
died prior to 1886. James Remley. born in Ohio. 1823. committed suicide. 

18:54 John C. Johnson, born May 16, 1807, in Belmont comity, Ohio. 

married Februarv 24. 1833. Miss Elizabeth Shaver, a lady of superior educa- 
tion, and the next vear located in this vicinity, arriving at the mouth of the 
Little Vermillion river .\iiri! 8th. Here he entered a .small tract of land, 
built a cabin and began life on what was later known as the "first bottom." 
In 1 8^4 he built a new house, which he occupied until 1880. when he removed 
to Newport, where he died in February. 1883. after having reared an exem- 
plary family of sons and daughters. In 1834 came also Benjamin Davis, 
who died in 1854. at the age of sixty- four years. His wife, whose maiden 
name was Rusha Sears, died in 1869. aged sixty-two years. 



426 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

In 1835 — John S. Bush. Ixirn in this state in 1828, was still living here 
in 1S87, and was totally l)lind. William Huff, born in Kentucky in 1812, 
and James Duzan, born in the same state six years later, both resided at New- 
port in the latter part of the eighties. 

1836 — David Albridge, born in North Carolina in 1790. and died Sep- 
tember II, 1877, being at the time about the oldest citizen of N'erniillion 
county. He serxed as a soldier in the war of 1812-14. 

1837 — Isaac Tropts, long a resident of the township, was nine years 
old when he came to the county in 1837. 

1838 — Hiram Hastey. born in Indiana in 1818, was a harness-maker at 
Newport, where he died. J. F. ^^'eller. merchant at Newport, was born in 
Kentucky in 1818: finallv moved to Petersburg, Indiana. 

1839 — T. W. Jackson, born in Ohio in 1816, was still residing here in 
1887. 

1840 — Hugh Dallas came into the township some time prior to 1840, 
from Virginia. .\bel Sexton, who in 1887 was still a prominent citizen of 
Newport, was a nati\e of New '^'ork. born in 1820. and settled in this county 
in 1843. Other prominent factors in the settlement and de\elopment of this 
township may be recalled the names of Alvah Arrasmith, Thomas G. Arra- 
smith, wagon maker at Newport, and G. W. Clark: also David Fry. James 
Kaufman, Leonard Sanders. Daniel E. Jones, who became a wealthy citizen 
of Chicago and died there ; also Major John Gardner and Henry Bet.son. 

Col. William Craig, born in Newport in 183 1, graduated at West Point 
Militarv School in 1853, having for his class-mates fienerals McPherson, 
Sheridan and Schofield; crossed the western plains in 1834 as lieutenant and 
aid-de-camp on General Garland's staff; served in the regular army ten years, 
being one of the best Indian fighters, and greatly admired by Kit Carson and 
other scouts. He finally died in the Southwest in 1886. 

A settler of 1840, in this township, should ha\e more than a passing 
notice. We refer to Hon. Oliver P. Davis, from whose initials the village 
and railroad station Opedee took its name — O. P. D. And the three letters 
also stood for the one thousand three hundred acre farm be owned between 
three and four miles below Newport, the "O. P. D. Farm." Oliver P. Davis 
was born in New Hampshire, in T814: learned the art of ])aper-making ; came 
to Indiana in 1838, tra\eling by coach, steamboat, canal and horseback, through 
the states of New York, Ohio, Michigan and the province of Canada. In 
New '^'ork he rode behind the first locomotive l)uilt in that state, then run- 
ning out of Albanx-. At Toronto. Canada, he was employed in a book-bind- 
erv and mill, doing the work more rapidly and efficiently than any of the 



PARKK AND VERMILLION COLNTIF.S, INDIANA. 427 

native haiuLs. In Ohio lie fell in with a jolly dentist nf whom he began lo 
learn the art of clentistrw afterward practicing his new trade at l-"ort Wayne. 
After residing at Logansport and Delphi, this state, fur a time, he went to 
Crreencastle and commenced the stud\- of law in the office of lulward W. 
McGonghe}', read two years and then in 1840 nKn'ed to \ermillion county 
and began the i)ractice of his profession, continning for five years. .After 
that he followed the occupations of agriculturist and tradesman. At first he 
purchased forty acres, to which he later made additions until he had in iStSj 
one thousand three hundred acres of rich Wabash bottom, whereon some 
times he raised immense crojis of corn, occasionally fifty thousand bushels or 
more, and sometimes. b\- reason of flood or frost, he lost great crops. The 
sediment deposited by the Wabash floods keeps the .soil \ery rich. Ihu-ing 
the vear of the famine in Ireland, Mr. Davis took to .\cw Orleans by flat- 
boat twenty-five thousand bushel^ of corn, some of which he bought at eigh- 
teen cents a bushel and .sold it from forty-five cents to one dollar ])er bushel. 
He is said to have sold in one season eighteen thousand dollars worth ot 
corn raised by his own hand. 

Mr. Davis was also familiar with state legislation, having been a mem- 
ber of the constitutional convention of 1850, a member of the ( ieneral .\s- 
sembly three terms, a delegate to important conventions, etc. Politically, he 
was. at times, a Democrat, Republican. National, etc. In his religious belief 
he was a "free-thinker." 

.\ I.ONG-IOST D.MC.HTKK. 

In the month of September, iXj^^. Mr, and .Mrs. I'-rennan, li\ing a mile 
to the west of Newport, received a visit from their daughter, whom they 
thought they had lost twenty-one years before, when they left her tempor- 
arily in the care of .some one at New Orleans during the dreadful siege of 
cholera. She had been found during the preceding summer b\ relatives in 
Ohio advertising in the Irish Republic, a Boston newspajjcr. She was then a 
resident of New Orleans and the mother of four children. Mr. and .Mrs. 
Brennan, on learning their daughter was still alive and living in New Orleans, 
immediatelv decided to visit her: but before starting they received a letter 
from her stating that she was coming to see them. .Vccordingly .she soon ar- 
rived at .Newport, late at night, on her way. and such was her haste to see 
her pareijts that, though it was dark and rainy, she hired a team and was im- 
mediately taken mU to the home of her parents, where a very exciting meeting 
occurred. The daughter remained until spring and the niother died a few- 
weeks after the daughter's visit. 



428 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

QUAKER HILL SETTLEMENT. 

Quaker Hill, or what i? sometimes called "Quaker Point." is the name 
of a fine neighborhood in a romantic section of country on Jonathan creek, 
near the western boundary of \''ermillion township. The \'icinity derived its 
name from tlie fact that an unusual proportion of the settlement was effected 
by members of the Society of Friends, nick-named "Quakers." A postoffice 
was established there, at a cross-roads, at an early date. The physicians of 
that section, at different times, included Doctors Joseph C. Cooke, who died 
in 1875, John Gilmore, Hiram and Lewis Shepard and P. H. Swaim. 

Newport, the county seat, is in this township, and is described in a sep- 
arate chapter. 




HON. ARED P. WHITE. 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



JUDGE ARED F. WHITE. 

True biography has a mure uublc purpose tliaii mere fulsome eulogy. 
The Historic spirit, faithful to the record; the discerning judgment, unmoved 
by prejudice and uncolored by enthusiasm, are as essential in giving the life 
of the individual as in writing the history of a people. Indeed, the ingenuous- 
ness of the former picture is even more vital, because the individual is the 
national unit, and if the unit be justly estimated the complex organism will 
become correspondingly intelligible. The world to-da_\- is very largely what 
the leading men of the past generation have made it, and this rule must e\er 
hold good. From the past comes the legacy of tiie present. Art, science, 
statesmanship and goxernmenl are accumulations. They constitute an inheri- 
tance upon which the present generation have entered, and the advantages 
secured from so \'ast a bequeathment depend entirely upon the tidelit\' with 
which is conducted the study of the lives of the principle actors who have 
transmitted the legacy. This is especially true of those whose influence has 
passed beyond the confines of locality and ])ermeated the larger life of the state. 
To such a careful studv are ilie life, diameter and .services of Judge Ared F. 
White, of Rockville, pre-eminently entitled, not only on the part of the student 
of biography, but also of e\ery citizen who. guided by example, would in the 
present build wisely for the future. In studying a clean-cut, sane, distinct 
character like his. interpretation follows fact in a straight line of derivation. 
There is small use for indirection or puzzling. His character is the positive 
expression of a strong nature, and he is distinctly one of the notable men of 
his day and generation and as such is entitled to a conspicuous place in the 
annals of his cit\-. comity and state, for here his life has been spent and his 
energies directed tow ard the general progress of his fellows, both as a private 
citizen and a public servant. The biography of such a man as he may well 
serve for an example and inspiration to youth who seriously meditate life, 
yet hesitate to lay the foundation for the stern realities of the every-day 
battles that await them. He is a fine type of the virile, self-made .American, 
having begun his career tmder no favorable auspices, but. with a persistence 



430 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

as rare as il was admirable, he adhered to his purpose and in due course of 
time achieved notable success, the inhospitable environments of his youth not 
being without their compensations. The usual and persistent effort required 
to obtain liberal qualifications for professional pursuits, in spite of ad\erse 
surroundings, develop and strengthen the mind as labor hardens and renders 
flexible the muscles. Not satisfied with existing conditions, lie decided to 
rise above them, and to this end he lost sight of e\ery other consideration or 
made it subordinate to the one goal he had in view. Every step in his prog- 
ress has been tlue to matured plans and well defined purposes. By his courage 
and energy he climbed steadily and persistently and stood firmly upon each 
rung of the ladder until he could reach the next above and plant himself 
securely thereun. When a young man lie, selected the law aS his life work, 
and determined, regardless of hindrance, to master the principles of his pro- 
fession and rise abo\e mediocrity, instead of lieing satisfied with a mere super- 
ficial knowletlge. such as man\' ]jrofessional men under similar circumstances 
are content to acquire. Whatever success he achieved during his active, long 
and strenuous career was due to careful preparation, a high sense of justice, 
candor as a counselor, a religious regard for the truth, and courteous de- 
meanor and gentlemanh' conduct in all relations with his fellow men. .\s a 
practitioner or chu'ing his long and notable ser\ice on the bench no charge 
or susjiicion of any wrong doing ever tarnished his name or marred liis official 
record: his i)ersonal honor was never compromised and his private life has 
e\er lieen wholesome and free from fault. His friendshi])s are warm, stead- 
fast and ne\er. w itbout the liest cause, are thev interrupted or broken, while 
his sterling \\ orth makes him ;i power for good among all with whom he comes 
in contact. 

Judge White was born in Rockxille, Parke county. Indiana. May 2j. 
1843. and is a son of Johnson S. and Hannah (Jones) White. The father 
was born in northern Ohio, and the mother's birth occurred in Clermont 
county, Ohio. Johnson S. White learned the blacksmith's trade when a young 
man. at which he worked during most of his active life, also became pro- 
prietor of a saw-mill and lumber \ard and finally farmed to some extent. He 
removed to Parke county, Indiana, about 1838 or 1839 and here established 
the permanent home of the familv and became well and favorably known to 
the early settlers in this section of the Wabash country. For some time 
he was engineer on a steamboat called the "Spv." which ])liefl the ^Vabash 
river. Gi\ing up that position, he went to the town of Montezuma and en- 
gaged in blacksmithing and was living there when he married. AToving from 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 43I 

there, he located where old Blooniingdale stood, coiitimnng hi.s trade two 
years, then came to Rockville, continuing- this line of endeavor until 1855, 
when he turned his attention to agricultural jjursuils. moving to his farm 
about three miles south of that town, carr\ing on his trade in cimncclion with 
farming until he bought a saw-mill in that neighborhood, which he conducted 
with much success until about 1874 or 1875. He then moved to Kockville 
where he spent the residue of his years, his death occurring in 187S. having 
been preceded to the grave by his wife in July, i8f)<S. lie was w ideK known 
as the most skilled blacksmith in this locality and his customers came from all 
over the country. He had the distinction of making the first wagon that 
crossed the plains to the Pacific coast during the gold fever days of the hitter 
forties. 

To Johnson S. White and wife were born seven children, named in order 
of birth as follows: Charles N.. of Marshall, I'arke county: Mary !•" ranees 
died in infancy: Ared F.. subject of this review: Martha I^.. who married 
Robert C Mcl)i\itt, and who died in kjij: William J., who is vice-president 
of Parke State Bank at Rockville: .Mary Elizabeth, who is the wife of Clinton 
Murphy, of Rockville: I'^rank C.. who is ^ice-president, secretary and trcas- 
user of the (icrman-American bruit Company, of Terre Haute. Indiana. 

Ared ]\ White received his ])rimarv education in the public schools of 
Rockville and in the rural schools south of town. When a young man, before 
reaching his majority, he entered his father's blacksmith sho]) and learned 
the trade, at which he worked for two years: then became fireman and engi- 
neer for his father in the saw-mill business, finally becoming head sawyer, 
which position he filled for a ])eriod of five years. Having an insatiable 
desire for an education of a higher education, he entered A.sbury (now De- 
Pauw) University at Greencastle. Indiana, where he made a s])lendid record 
and from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1867. having 
finished the .scientific course. During his senior year he read law in the office 
of John Hanna. of Greencastle, and after his graduation pursued his studies 
with John McLaughlin, of Rockville. with whom he formed a partnership 
late in the year 1867. having made rai)id progress with Rlackstone. Kent and 
other legal authorities. This alliance was for the practice of law and it con- 
tinued until the following March, when Mr. McLaughlin removed to Minne- 
sota. Judge White has been a leader of the local bar ever 'since, his success 
ever growing until he bin'lt up a large and lucrative practice and became one of 
the most noted and able lawyers of western Indiana, figuring prominently in 
important cases in local courts for many years. He was in partnershii> with 



43- PARKE .\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Elwood Hunt for a number of years, or until 1886, at which time he was 
honored by the people by being elected judge of the forty-seventh judicial 
circuit, embracing Parke and Vermillion counties, and was on the bench for 
a period of eighteen years, his long retention being criterion enough to indi- 
cate his high standing in these counties and of the trust and confidence re- 
posed in him by the people, serving three full terms in a most able and con- 
scientious manner. He came to the bench well qualified for its exacting duties 
and responsibilities and from the beginning his judicial career was character- 
ized by such a profound knowledge of the law and an earnest and conscientious 
desire to apply it impartially that he was not long in gaining the respect and 
confidence of the attorneys and litigants and earning for himself an honora- 
ble reputation among the leading jurists of the state. From the first his 
labors were very arduous, as many important cases were tried in his court. 
not a few coming to him by change of venue : in addition to which he was also 
called to other circuits to sit on cases in which large interests were involved. 
So far as known, his rulings were ever without bias, characterized by their 
uniform fairness and impartiality, with a display of a profound knowledge 
of the A'arious phases of jurisprudence and his decisions in all cases were 
eminently satisfactory, and so in accord with the basic princi]iles of law and 
practice that everybody interested was thoroughly satisfied with his course. 
It is safe to say that no one ever wore the judicial ermine with more becoming 
dignity or was more worthy of the same in the annals of the Hoosier state 
than he. 

After the expiration of his term of office Judge White resumed the prac- 
tice of his profession in Rock\-ille in partnership with his son. J. Sr White, 
with offices over the Parke State Bank, and continues a leader of the bar in 
this and adjoining counties, his services having ever been in great demand in 
important cases. Being ever a student, he has kept well abreast of the times 
in new rulings, decisions, change of statute and, in fact, all matters pertaining 
to his profession. 

For a period of five years the Judge was school examiner, and was 
president of the Rockville school board for a period of nine years, during 
which there was a great impro\ement noted in the local educational system, 
he having been largely responsible for the adoption of a regular course of 
study and the division of the school year into regular terms, also by the gradua- 
tion of classes and awarding of diplomas. Politically, he has always been 
loyal to the Republican party and a local leader in the counsels of the same. 
He had the honor of being presidential elector in 1880 from the eighth con- 
gressional district. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDLWA. 4 ^_^ 

Fraternally, Judge White is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and 
the Hoosier Literary Club of Rockville, of which he has long been one of the 
principal lights. He united with the Methodist Episcopal church when a boy 
under the ministry of Rev. John Edwards. 

During the Civil war the subject proved his courage and his patriotism 
by enlisting in Company C, Se\enty-eighth Indiana Volunteer infantry, in 
i86j. In 1864 he became corporal of Company G, One Hundred and Thivtv- 
tiiird Indiana \olunteer Infantry, and was a member of a color guard of the 
latter regiment. According to his comrades, he pro\-ed to be a most gallant 
and faithful soldier for the Union, and he received an honorable discharge. 
He has been a student of military affairs all his life and is one of the best 
posted men on military subjects in the state. 

Judge White was married on October jj, 1X69, to Sarah Catherine 
Strouse. a lady of culture and refinement and a representative of an excel- 
lent old famil}'. well and fa\oral)ly known at Rocksille, she Ijeing the tlaughter 
of Samuel and Mar\- V. i Baker) Strouse. Her father was born in Bavaria, 
Germany, and her mnther was liurn in I'arke counl\-. Indiana. .Mrs. White 
was born in Rockville and there grew to womanhood and received her early 
education. The union of the Judge and wife has been blessed by the birth 
of the following children: Fannie S., Nellie 1).. Jacnb S.. who is a ]>romi- 
nenl young lawyer, practicing with his father in Rockville. and Helen .M.. 
wife of Walter C. Mand. of Terre Haute, Indiana. 

As alreadv intimated, the Judge has ever kept in touch with the interests 
of his citv and countv and is an ardent advocate and liberal patron of all 
worthv enterprises making for their advancement and ])rosperity. His activi- 
tv in behalf of everv movement for the gocxl of his fellow citizens has endeared 
him to the people aiming whom the greater part of his life has been spent, and 
his popularity is bounded only by the limits of his ac<|uaintance. being widely 
known as a ])rogressi\e citizen, prnfound sludeiil. gifted orator, learned 
jurist and ])olished gentleman. 

In closing this biography we desire U) give a further estimate of Judge 
White b) cpioting the following lines from an article which appeared some 
time ago in a newspaper of the Judge's home county, which will show the 
appreciation in which he is held there : 

'■Judge Ared F. W'hite is one of the few men about whom it is easy to 
say something at once truthful and pleasant. From his boyhood he has oc- 
cupied a position distinguished among his contemporaries. A fine manly bear- 
ing, a particular aptitude in certain branches of study and a marked talent 
(28) 



434 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

for oratory, even in his childliood days attracted the attention of a com- 
munity then more than now alert for signs of talent in the rising generation. 
Although the parents of Judge White were not, in the common acceptance of 
the term, highly educated people, we have been told by those who knew them 
that the)- were possessed in a remarkable degree of that plain, commun sense, 
that insight into real life, that scorn of affectation and display that was 
the leading characteristic of many of the sturdy self-respecting American 
people of their day. 

"All who can recall the fine face of Johnson S. White will remember that 
peculiar stamp of integrity which it bore, and the look of sagacity and human 
understanding that one cauglit occasionally from his deep-set eyes. The 
father knew his son had talent, knew it without the fatuous vanity that leads 
some men to spend money on their sons. So he gave him the college educa- 
tion the bov coveted and his friends advised. He fulfilled his father's highest 
ambition. 

"We hear a great deal in these days of versatility about the all-around 
man, and Judge White answers to this description. Standing at the head of 
his profession, he is still devoid of the one-sidedness that often distinguishes 
men who have given their lives to the study of a profession. Judge White 
is a man of strong literary tastes, and he can now indulge in literary pursuits 
as a pastime or relaxation from the strenuous duties of life, as he does at 
short intervals to the delight of his friends. Perfectly at home on platform 
or rostrum, charming in the company of a few boon companions, he may be 
said to lack the faculty of letting his light shine promiscuously." 



HON. BARTON SCOTT AIRMAN. 

It is a well authenticated fact that success comes not as the caprice of 
chance, but as the legitimate result of well applied energ)-, unflagging deter- 
mination and perseverance in a course of action once decided upon by the 
individual. Only those who diligently seek the goddess Fortuna find her — 
she never \vas known to smile upon the idler or dreamer. The gentleman 
whose name forms the caption of this biographical sketch clearly understood 
this fact early in life, so he did not seek any royal road to success, but sought 
to direct his feet along the well-beaten paths of those who had won in the 
battle of life along legitimate lines. He had their careers in mind when 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 435 

casting about for a legitimate line to follow, and in tracing his life histoi-y 
it is plainly seen that the prosperity and popularity which Mr. Aikman enjoys 
has been won by commendable qualities, and it is also his personal worth 
which has gained for him the high standing in Vermillion and adjoining 
counties, in which he has long been well known, influential and highly es- 
teemed. 

Before proceeding with the specific l)iography of ihc lion. Barton S. 
Aikman. it is deemed advisable to go into the history of this prominent old 
family at some length. The surname Aikman is of great antiquity in Scot- 
land. Its origin goes back to the time of Macbeth, in the year 1050, or nearly 
one thousand years ago. It seems that the name was first borne l>y the com- 
mander of the troops that attacked the usurper, Macbeth, before his castle, 
Dunsinane. It is believerl that Shakespeare's "Macbeth" was written from the 
stor\' of this episode, which is contained in the first historv of Scotland. 
Macbeth murdered Duncan, the king, and seized the throne himself, which 
he held for some sixteen years. In order to make himself secure he selected 
the commanding hill of Dunsinane, near the woods of Birnam. Here he 
built a strong castle. Malcolm, the son of the murdered king, decided to 
recover his father's throne. He enlisted the aid of Edward, king of Eng- 
land, hiring ten thousand troops from him, and advanced against ^lacljeth. 
When the Birnam woods were reached the invading soldiers each secured 
a large oak bough which they held in front of them in advancing on the 
castle. In the battle that ensued Macbeth's troops were defeated and he was 
slain. So, adopting the tradition which Sir Robert Douglas, Scotland's first 
historian, gives, it would appear that King Malcolm or the commander to 
whom the attack was committed was the first Aikman. Whoever he was. the 
success of the strategem of the Birnam oak woods gave him his surname. Oak- 
man or Aikman. From him all the Aikmans are said to have descended. 
Douglas, in the history already referred to, says that .Mexandcr de Aikman 
was compelled to submit to King Edward T of England, when he overran 
Scotland in the year 1296. He adds. "The ancestors of the family appear 
to have been free barons, and to have settled in the country of Forfar several, 
centuries ago. " It is a noteworthx- fact that .\ikmans are now, as they have 
been for seven or eight centuries or more, residing still in Forfoarshire. 
Representatives of the immediate family of the .subject of this sketch are .still 
residing in the locality in Scotland mentioned above, whence his forebears 
came more than a century and a ([uarter ago. Books of heraldry speak of 
the .\ikman coat-of-arms as one of the oldest in Scotland. 

For centuries the .Aikmans have been ruling ciders in the Presbvterian 



436 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

church, inchiding the famous Pearl Street Presbyterian church in New York 
City. 

Of the Aikman family that concerns this historical publication most 
specifically, we first hear of John and Mary (Barr) Aikman, the former 
born on April 15, 1787, both natives of Virginia or Kentucky. They were 
married June 14, 1804, while living in Kentucky, and the following children 
were born to them : Barton Stone Aikman, father of Hon. Barton Scott Aik- 
man. the immediate subject of this review, was born October 17, 1805; Sicily 
Aikman. Ijorn December 11, 1808; James Aikman, born January 7, 1810. 
With these three children, John Aikman and wife moved from Bourbon 
countw Kentucky, to Daviess county. Indiana, in 181 1. and there were born 
to them in Daviess county the following children : Hugh Aikman, the first 
white child born in Da\iess county, born March 12. i8ij; Samuel Aikman, 
born February 28, 1814; John B. Aikman. born January 15. 1816: Thomas 
Aikman, born May 5, 1818; Elizabeth Aikman, born January 3, 1821 : Mariah 
Aikman, born November 23, 1822: Mary Aikman, born ^May i, 1825; Robert 
Aikman, born June i, 1827: William M. Aikman, born March 27, 1830, and 
Martha Aikman, born October 7, 1832. 

Barton Stone Aikman, the eldest of these children, came from Daviess 
county to Vermillion county, Indiana, in about the year 1827. and here began 
life in tvpical pioneer fasin'on, the country being wild and \ery sparsely 
settled. He was married to Jane Rhoades, Octoljer 17. 1827, the day he was 
twenty-two years of age. There were bom to this union the following 
children : John, Mary, Elizabeth, William, Silas, Alariah, Robert and James. 
They are all deceased except Mariah and Robert. After the death of his 
first wife. Barton Stone Aikman married Mary Jane Amemian on March 
10, 1846. She was born in Indiana, November 18, 1824. To this second 
union nine children were born, namely : Peter is a retired farmer, living in 
Dana, Indiana ; Thomas went west when a boy, became a minister in the 
Methodist church in Nebraska, and he is now deceased; Hugh is engaged in 
the general merchandise business at Montezuma, Parke count}', this state; 
Franklin is also a Methodist minister and lives at Crawfordsville, Indiana; 
Margaret died in infancy; Edgar, deceased, was a practicing physician at 
Clinton, Indiana ; Samuel is a Presbyterian minister and lives in Philadelphia. 
Pennsyh'ania ; Henry is a grain dealer at West St. Bernice, Vermillion county ; 
Barton Scott, subject of this sketch, is the youngest of the familv. The 
parents of the above named children are both deceased. 

Of the present whereabouts of the brothers and sisters of Barton Stone 
Aikman, father of the subject, we give the following: Sicily Aikman mar- 



PARKE AM) NEU.MII.I.IOX COINTIES. INDIAXA. 437 

ried a man named Robinson and moved to Daviess county. Missouri, where 
quite a large family of Aikmans now reside. James Aikman, now deceased, 
has descendants in Daviess county, Indiana, his children beinsr Henry, John. 
Samuel and Martha, and Mrs. Coleman of Topeka, Kansas. Ilu.cjh Aikman's 
descendants are scattered over the country. Samuel Aikman was married 
in Daviess county, Indiana, in .August, 1833, to Eliza Ann Eades, a cousin 
of the noted Captain Eades, and shortly afterwards settled in Vermillion 
county. There were born to tlieni the following children: John. Mary, 
Elijah, Martha. Margaret, Lucy, Caroline, William, Levi H.. Charles C, 
Lemuel and Adelaide. John B. Aikman died in Daviess county many years 
ago, and now has one grandson in Terre Haute. John B. Aikman. Thomas 
Aikman died when a small fwy. Elizabeth .\ikman married a Hawkins and 
moved to Greene county. Indiana. Maria .\ikman married a Helphinstine, 
and lived in Daviess county, where her descendants are now found. Mary .\ik- 
man married Capt. Isaac McCormick. .md left two daughters. Mrs. Corning, 
of Washington, and Mrs. i'ringle. of Bloomlield. Indiana. Robert .\ikman 
has been dead man\ years, and has one child living. Mrs. Charles Jones, of 
Washington. William M. .\ikman has five children living. Walter. Helen and 
Laura, of Chicago: Man. at Washington, .uid William at Natchez. Missis- 
sippi. Martha Aikman married a Johnson and now resides in Kansas, and 
she is now the only living child of John .\ikman. 

Barton S. Aikman and Samuel .\ikman were two of the early ])ioneers 
of Vermillion county. They were brtnight to this county by their father. John 
Aikman. to find them a home, about iiS30. The public records of the count\ 
show that John Aikman made the original entry of a large tract of wild 
])rairie and timber land, which he afterward deeded to these two sons, giving 
them a start in life, when he returned to his old home in Daviess county. A 
hero of the wilds and the wilderne.ss himself, with a father's care, love and 
devotion to his children, he bravely led these two sons where they followed and 
])lanted for each a home and they each began the battle of life in the primeval 
forest and untrodden waste of prairie. Here they battled and toiled and by 
their indu.strv, frugalitv and jjerseverance builded for their ]X)sterity. not only 
a rich heritage of lands, but a richer heritage of devotion and nobility. Samuel 
died at a ripe old age. and Barton S. died in middle life. The memory of each 
is honored and respected, not only by a long line of descendants, but by the 
community in which they lived. The names of the descendants of these two 
.\ikmans are too numerous to record in this sketch. They are all over \'er- 
million county and some are elsewhere. 

From the wilds of Kentuckv to the wilds of Indiana came Barton S. 



438 PARKE .\KD VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Aiknian, five } ears before the latter state was admitted to the Union. During 
the Indian wars, when his home and loved ones had to be guarded, not only 
against wild beasts, but against wild and savage red men, he was compelled in 
his early life, in what is now Daviess county, to build a fort in which to shelter 
his family against the ravages of Indians. In one of these forts his son Hugh 
was ])orn. He was Daviess county's first school teacher, one of its trrst com- 
missioners, and sened on the first grand jury that met in the county. He built 
the first brick house in the county, in 1833, making the brick himself, tramping 
the mud with oxen. The old house still stands and is occupied by the blood 
:of its builder. 

Hon. Barton S. Aikman, subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in 
Vermillion county and received his education in the public schools of his 
native community, later taking the course at the Terre Haute State Normal 
School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1884. He began life 
for himself by teaching school, which he followed with much success for a 
period of five years. During that period he studied law% was admitted to the 
bar in 1886 and at once began the practice of his profession, which he has con- 
tinued w ith ever-increasing success until the present time at Newport, enjoy- 
ing a large and lucrative practice, figuring prominently in important cases in 
the local courts and taking a position in the front rank of attorneys in a lo- 
cality long noted for the high order of its legal talent. He has remained a 
student all his life and has kept fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to 
his profession. He is a careful, painstaking and persevering lawyer, who 
spares no pains in looking after the interests of his clients and he has great 
power before a jun,-, being a logical, earnest and not infrequently truly elo- 
quent speaker. 

Having long manifested an abiding interest in public afifairs, Mr. Aikman 
was elected prosecuting attorney of this circuit in 1890, which position he 
filled until 1904 in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to 
the eminent satisfaction of his constituents. In 1910 he was elected judge of 
the forty-seventh judicial circuit, and is still incumbent of this office. He is 
wearing the judicial ermine with becoming dignity, bringing to every case 
submitted to I|im a clearness of perception and ready power of analysis char- 
acteristic of the broad-minded and scholarly jurist, and he has by his able and 
unbiased course given ample room for the justification of the wisdom of his 
selection by the people of this circuit, for his decisions have been uniformly 
fair and clear, showing a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the basic prin- 
ciples of jurisprudence and the modern statutes of Indiana. His vast knowl- 
edge of the law^ is backed by a high purpose and an unconquerable will, as well 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 439 

as vigorous mental powers, guided by high ideals and the liighest ^en<e of 
honor. 

Judge Aiknian was married in 1889 to Mary B. Chipps. a lady of culture 
and refinement, and a daughter (if James and Martha ( Dallas ) Chipps, a higlily 
respected old family. Her grandparents were born in Ireland, where they 
spent their earlier years, coming to Newport. Indiana, many years ago. Mr. 
Chipps spent his active life successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. Init 
is now living retired, ha\-ing accumulated a competency. Politicallv, he is a 
Democrat. 

The union of Judge Aikman and wife has been blessed \)\ the Ijirlii of 
two children, namely: Given C. Aikman. who is still at home, and Xina, who 
has also remained with her parents. 

The present commodious, attractive and modernly apix)inted home of 
Judge Aikman in Newport was built by him some time ago. He has resided 
continuously here since 1886. Fraternally, he is a member of the ^lasonic 
order, the Knights of Pythias, Lodge Xo. 242. and a charter member of the 
Modern Woodmen of America, all at Newport. Politically, the Judge is a 
loyal Republican, and has long been acti\e and influential in the ranks, being 
a leader in local affairs. Personally, he is a man of fine address, scholarly, 
fair-minded, courteous, obliging and af¥able, but withal, plain, unassuming, a 
man of the people, who merits in every respect the high esteem in which he is 
held by all classes. 



HOMER J. SKEETERS. 

The biographer, in writing of the representative citizens of Parke county, 
Indiana, has found no subject w orthier, among her younger men of affairs, of 
representation in a work of the province of the one at hand than I'mf. Homer 
J. Skeeters, the present able and popular incumbent of the office of county 
superintendent of schools. He is known as a man of high attainments and 
practical ability, as one who has achieved success in his profession because he 
has worked for it persistently and along well defined channels. His prestige 
in the educational circles of this locality stands in evidence of his ability and 
likewise .stands as a voucher for intrinsic worth of character. He has u.sed his 
intellect to the best purpose, has directed his energies in legitimate avenues, 
and his career has been based upon the wise assumi)tion that nothing but ])er- 
sistent labor, integrity and fidelity to duty will lead to success. The profession 
of teaching, which he has made his principal life work. ofYers no opportunities 



440 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

to tlie slothful. Init only tu such determined spirits as that of Prof. Skeeters. 
It is an arduous, exacting, discouraging profession to one who is unw illing to 
subordinate other interests to its demands, but to the true and earnest dev- 
otee it offers a s])here of action who.se attractions are equal to any and whose 
rewards are unstinted. That the gentleman whose name initiates this review 
possesses the qualities enumerated is undoubted, owing to the success he has 
achieved while yet young in years and the high regard in which he is held b)- 
all who know him. 

Homer J. Skeeters was born April _>S, 1884, at Montezuma, Parke 
county, Indiana, the son of W. J. and Susan M. (Ware) Skeeters. the latter 
having been the daughter of James P. Ware, one of the original settlers of 
this county, who came from the blue grass region of Kentucky and began life 
here in typical pioneer fashion when this portion of Indiana was practicalh- a 
wilderness. The mother of the subject was called to her eternal rest on Decem- 
ber 28, 1910. W. J. Skeeters, a highly respected citizen, lives at Blooming- 
dale, this county, on a farm, being regarded as one of the progressive agricul- 
turists of that community. 

The Skeeters family is of German origin on the father's side. The ma- 
ternal side of the subject's family is of old colonial stock, the Wares having 
lived in \'irginia in the early history of America. Both parents of the Pro- 
fessor had been jjreviously married, and the subject has a half-brother and a 
half-sister. 

Prof, Skeeters grew to manhood in his native locality and he received 
his primary education in the common and high schools of the village of Mar- 
shall, Parke county, later attending the Friends Academy at Bloomingdale, 
Indiana. His professional training was received at the Indiana State Normal 
School at Terre Haute. He had given such great promise in his work that 
before he had completed his course in the Normal he was elected county su- 
])erintendent of schools of Parke county, in February. 191 1. to fill out an 
unexpired term, and he made such a splendid record in this capacity that he 
was re-elected to the office in June, 191 2. for a term of four years, and is 
still discharging the duties of this important office in a manner that reflects 
much credit upon his ability and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned, 
irrespective of party alignment. He has his own ideas of school policy, which 
are modern and progressive, and which he seeks to maintain. He found the 
schools in good shape when he came in ofhce. but he began at once to secure a 
better organization, especially in the rural schools, and this has received his 
close attention ever since. He hopes to have all eight schools commissioned 
as high schools before his term of office expires. The rural school problem — 



PARKE AND \KU.M 11,1. ION COUNTIKS. INDIANA. 44I 

that of inakiiig- it more efficient — is one of his vital aims (hiriiii; iiis adminis- 
tration. He has done a most commendable work in strengtheninji the schools 
of the county and much better work is being done than ever before. 

Prof. Skeeters began teaching in 1901 and was teaching his eleventh year 
when he was elected county superintendent. He began in Washington town- 
ship, where he taught one year, also s])ent one year in (ireene township, then 
taught in Montezuma three years and for six years was principal of the 
Bloomingdale schools, giving the utmost satisfaction in all to both jjupil and 
patron, for he is regarded a painstaking, careful instructor, and as an enter- 
tainer at the same time. 

Prof. Skeeters was married to Madge K. Harrison, daughter of O. S. 
and Marv (Bates) Harrison, a highly respected family of Rosedale. Indiana, 
the wedding occurring in igoj. Her family from both sides came from Clin- 
ton, this state. O. S. Harri.son .started the first bank at Marshall. Indiana, and 
later e.stablisbed the bank at Rosedale. He is a man of much business ability 
and an influential citizen in this community. Mrs. Skeeters recei\ed a good 
education in the schools of her native town and is in every way a fit helpmate 
for a man of the type of the subject. This union has been graced by the birth 
of three children. namel\- : Ma.xw ell James, Harold Harrison and Warren 
Ware. 

Prof. Skeeters belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Masons and the 
Modem Woodmen in his fraternal relations, and he holds membership in the 
Baptist church. Mrs. Skeeters is a member of the Christian church. Mr. 
Skeeters was formerly superintendent of the Sunday school at Bloomingdale. 
and has long been identified with church work. Politically, the Professor is a 
Democrat and loyal to its principles, Personally, he is a young man of pleas- 
ing address, kind, obliging, genial and uniformly courteous, being popular 
with all classes. 



JOSEPH W. STRAIN. 

Joseph W. Strain, president of the First National Bank of Clinton, is the 
scion of the two of the honored old pioneer families of this section of the 
state. He was born in this county on June 22. 1867, and he is the son of 
Daniel E. and Mary J. (Helt) Strain,' the father born near F"indlay, Ohio, 
from which state he came to Indiana very early and settled in Helt township, 
\'ermillion countv. The Helt family were among the very earliest settlers 
here, coming as early as 1S18. when the country was a wilderness and the 



44-2 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

abode of all manner of wild beasts and red men. They settled on what has 
since been known as Helt prairie, Helt township, both having been named in 
their honor. 

Daniel E. Strain devoted his life to general farming and stock raising" in 
Vermillion county, becoming well established through his industry, and he 
was married in this county. His death occurred in 1903, at the age of seventy- 
liine years. His widow is still living, being now advanced in years, making 
her home with her daughter, Mrs. Frances A. Southard. She is a woman of 
gracious personality and, like her worthy husband before her. has always had 
a large number of warm friends throughout Vermillion county. 

Six children were born to Daniel E. Strain and wife, namely: Isaac H., 
who lives in Greencastle, Indiana; Frances A., who married Eura Southard, 
of Vermillion county: Charles H., who li\es in Helt township; Elizabeth 
married Victor Reichwald, of Chicago ; James died when twenty years of 
age ; Joseph W., of this review, being the youngest. 

Joseph W. Strain grew to manhood in his native count\- and was edu- 
cated in the common schools here, later entering the Indiana State Normal 
School at Terre Haute, from which he was graduated with the class of 1893. 
He also attended Indiana University and Chicago University. After leaving 
school he began life for him.self by teaching, which he continued with success 
for a period of fifteen years. For seven years he was principal of the high 
school at Clinton, during which he brought the same up to a verv high order 
of efficiency, discharging the duties of this responsible position in a manner 
that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of 
both pupils and patrons. As a teacher he kept fully abreast of the times in 
all that pertained to that vocation and introduced many helpful reforms, 
placing the local schools on an equal footing with any in the state and winning 
a reputation as an instructor and manager second to none. Finally tiring of 
the school room and perceiving a broader field for the exercise of his talents in 
another direction, Mr. Strain gave up his work as principal of the Clinton 
high school to take a position in the First National Bank of Clinton, of which 
he has become president, the important duties of which exacting position he 
has filled in a most able and commendable manner, giving eminent satisfaction 
to the stockholders and all concerned, his able management and wise counsel 
resulting in greatly increasing the prestige of this popular and sound insti- 
tution, one of the most conservative and safe banks in the state, according to 
those who have investigated its standing. Its other oflficers are : Edward 
Shirkie, vice-president: O. F. Houston, cashier; board of directors, F. L. 
Swinehart. John R. Newton, Edward Shirkie, B. H. Morgan, H. K. Morgan 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COLXTIKS, IXDLWA. 443 

and H. R. McClelland. This hank was organized in i<j02, with a capital 
stock of thirty thousand dollars, an<l its present surplus is eleven thousand 
dollars. The stock is all held hy local business men. * 

Mr. Strain was married in 1908 to Grace Little, daughter of Rufus antl 
Emily (Noyes) Little, a highly respected family of Vermillion county. Mrs. 
Strain was born and reared in X'erniillion county, and received a good edu- 
cation in the local schools and is a graduate of the Chicago Art Institute. 

Religiously, Mr. Strain is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and he is treasurer of the board of stewards of the same. Politically, he is a 
Progressive. 



JAMES E. ELDER. 



A man of marked individuality, James E. Elder, the present able and 
popular incumbent of the office of county auditor of Parke county, is a typical 
representative of that large and enterprising class of men of affairs to whom 
Parke and Vermillion counties, or indeed the entire commonwealth of Indiana, 
owe much of their prosperitv and development, and his record, whether as a 
private citizen or as a public servant, shows him to have been faithful in the 
performance of his duty in his nati\e Wabash county whose interests he has 
ever had at heart and sought to promote and he has therefore always enjoyed 
the good will and confidence of all classes. 

Mr. Elder was born on November 8, 1868, in Washington township, 
Parke county, Indiana, on a faruL He is the son of James M. and Sarah A. 
(Burford) Elder. The father was a native of Madison county, Kentucky, 
from which state he came to Parke county, Indiana, in 1825 and settled on a 
farm, which became the old homestead. He began life in typical pioneer 
fashion and was one of the influential early settlers here. He was an honest, 
hospitable, hard-working man, who followed farming all his life and lived 
continuously on the same farm. No man was better or morefavorably known 
in this section of the state during his day and generation. He enjoyed an 
unusually large circle of friends, although the country was at that early 
period sparsely settled, and he deserved the esteem in which he was univer- 
sally held. He was an advocate of all that was best for his community and his 
fellow men. He was a stanch Democrat, having first voted for James K. 
Polk for President. When seventy-four years old he had the misfortune to 
lose his right aruL He was a faithful member of the old school Baptist church. 
His death occurred on .\pril 29, 1905, at the advanced age of eightv-threc 



444 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

years, having been born ^larch 2^, 1822. The mother of the immediate sub- 
ject of this sketch was the daughter of William B. Burford, who was one of 
the pioneers of tlie count}-. Slie was a woman of many commendable traits 
of character, and she had a host of friends. Mrs. Elder had a marked natural 
love for literature and music. To those who knew her best her appreciation 
of these things seemed unusual in one having the limited educational advan- 
tages of her earlv life. Her death occurred on June 17, igo8, at the age of 
seventy-nine vears, her birth having occurred in April, 1829. 

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. James M. Elder, namely : Eliza- 
beth, wife of J. D. Overman, of Rockville; Dora, deceased, was the wife of 
Dudlc)' McW'illiams, of Washington township, this county; William A. is 
deceased; .Anna is the wife of J. D. .Adams, of Indianapolis; Emma is the 
wife of ^^^ W. Cummings. of Marshall, Parke county; Ella is the wife of W. 
F. Blue, of Montezuma, Parke county ; David died in infancy ; Lucy is the 
wife of Dr. G. W. Farver. of Seymour. Indiana; James E., of this sketch, is 
the youngest of the family. 

James E. Elder was reared on the old homestead in this countv and there 
he assisted with the general work when old enough, and he received his pri- 
mary education in the rural schools of his community. He subsequently at- 
tended Bloomingdale .Academy, from which institution he was graduated with 
the class of 1888; he then took a course at Earlham College, Richmond, In- 
diana, making an excellent record as a student, and he was graduated from 
that institution with the class of 1891, earning by his college record, a scholar- 
ship to Haverford College, Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Elder began life for himself by spending one year in newspaper 
work after he left college, and was employed at different places, his last work 
having been on the old Indianapolis Journal. He returned to Parke county 
in the fall of 1893 and resumed farming on the home place, and on account of 
his natural love of country life and also on account of the infirmity of his aged 
father he afterwards decided to remain jjermanently on the farm. He con- 
tinued successfully on the farm until elected county auditor in 1910 on the 
Democratic ticket. Something of his popularity with all classes may be 
gained from tlie fact that he is the second Democratic county auditor of 
Parke county since the Civil war. He has discharged the duties of this office 
in a manner that has reflected much credit upon his ability and to the eminent 
satisfaction of all concerned, his selection justifying the wisdom of his con- 
stituents in every respect. 

Mr. Elder was married on June 13, 1901, to Mell Newlin, daughter of 
Harlan B. and Jane (Hadley) Newlin, of Bloomingdale, Indiana, a promi- 



PARKE AND VERMU.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 445 

nent pioneer family of i-'riends in Parke county. Mrs. Elder's nu>ther wa.s a 
daughter of .Alfred Madley. a prominent abolitionist of I'arke county before 
the war. To the subject and wife have been born three sons, named as fol- 
lows: James Harlan, born September 24, 1902 ; William Alfred, born ( )cto- 
ber 19, 1903; Joseph Addi-son, born April 13. 190S. 

Mr, Elder is a member of the Alasonic order at .Marshall. I'arke count)' 
Politically, he is a faithful supporter of the Democratic ])ai-ty. 

Mr. Elder has been very successful in a business \\a\ and he is the owner 
of the home farm, pleasantly located hve miles north of Uockville and con- 
taining three hundred and forty acres. He has kcpi ihc olil place well im- 
proved and carefully culti\ated so that it has retained its oris,dnal fertility 'and 
strength of soil, and here he has carried on general farming on a large anil 
modern scale, being regarded as one of the successful and substantial agricul- 
turists and stock men of the county. He has long beqn acti\e in politics and 
influential in the councils of his party, though he is not a politician in a strict 
sense, merely desiring to aid his party and work for the general de\elopment 
of his county and state, aspiring to be merely a good citizen in the best sense 
of the term. He is an excellent judge of live stock, and until recently was a 
breeder of short-horn cattle, which, owing to their superior tpialit}'. always 
found a very read}- market when ofifered for sale. He antl his wife are great 
lovers of farm life, fully appreciating its freedom, health fulness and diversity 
of charms. 



HARRISON T. P.WNE. 

That life is the most useful and desirable that results in the greatest 
good to the greatest number and, though all <lo not reach the goal of which 
they are ambitious of attaining, yet in some measure each can win success 
and make life a blessing to others. It is not necessary for one to occupy emi- 
nent public ])Ositions to do so, for in the humbler walks of life there remains 
much good to Ijc accomplished and man)- opportunities for the exercise of our 
powers and influence which in some way >vill touch others with whom we 
come into contact, making them better and brighter. In the list of worthy 
citizens of X'ermillion county occurs the names of Harrison T. Payne, for- 
merly a well know n educator and business man, and who has for the past eight 
vears discharged the duties of county auditor in a m.nmcr as to bring forth the 
praise of all concerned. In his career there is much that is commendable and 
his life forciblv illustrates what one can accomplish, even in the face of obsta- 



446 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. ' " 

cles. if one's plans are wisely laid and his actions governed by right princi- 
ples, noble aims and high ideals. 

Mr. Payne was born near Pimento, Vigo county, Indiana, on May 4. 
1868. He is a son of Thomas J. and Adeline (Jewell) Payne, natives of Vigo 
county and Kentucky, respectively. The father spent his active life in agri- 
cultural pursuits. During the Civil war he enlisted in Companv C, Eighty- 
fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Six brothers of the subject's mother were 
soldiers in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion. 

To Thomas J. Payne and wife were born the following children : Frank 
B. is engaged in railroad construction work at Weiser, Idaho; Martha J. mar- 
ried John H. Richey. a farmer of Eureka, Kansas ; Nancy J. married Daniel 
B. Stark, and they live in Colorado ; Riley is fanning at Howard, Kansas : 
Sarah J. married Thomas Forster, of Vermillion, Illinois; Harrison T. of 
this review ; Felix B. is a merchant of Clovis, New Mexico. 

Politically, Thomas J. Payne is a Republican. For some time he was 
justice of the peace in Edgar county, Illinois. He is a member of the Christ- 
ian church and is a deacon in the same. 

Harrison T. Payne was educated in the common schools of Indiana and 
Illinois. Thereafter he taught school for a period of fifteen years in a most 
successful manner, his services being in great demand. Finally tiring of the 
school room, he entered the business arena and was local agent for the Inter- 
national Harvester Company, at Clinton, Indiana, for some time, and he also 
engaged in the general mercantile business there. Taking an interest in pub- 
lic affairs, he was elected asses.sor of Clinton township, which position he held 
in an acceptable manner for six years. He was treasurer of the school board 
at Clinton for a year. For two years he was secretary of the Clinton Home 
Loan & Savings Association. He taught for some time in the Clinton schools, 
and in 1904 was elected auditor of Vermillion county, and, making a most 
commendable record, he was re-elected in 1908, serving eight vears in all, his 
term expiring December 31, 1912. He was conceded by all to be one of the 
best officials the county has ever had, and he discharged his fluties so ablv. 
honorably and conscientiously that he ever enjoyed the confidence and good 
will of all. 

Mr. Payne was married on April 12. 1896, to Carrie B. Fuqua, daugh- 
ter of Marshall D. Fuqua, of Sandford, Indiana, and to this union three chil- 
dren have been born, namely: Rheocus T., Lucille, and Mabel. 

Mr. Payne is a member of the Christian church. He belongs to the 
Modern Woodmen of America. Politically, he is a loyal Republican and is 
chairman of the Republican countv committee. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 447 

After thf suljject was twenty-one years old he paid tuition to attend a 
country school during the winter and summer months, which was conducted 
by his sister west of Sandford. Indiana, just over the line in Illinois. When 
Mr. Payne was seventeen years old he went to Kansas, where he remained for 
two years and seven months, and engaged in carrying a star mail route, in the 
employ of his brother-in-law, who held the government contract, carrying the 
mail between Climax and Nealville, Kansas. He was one of the first rural 
mail carriers in the countr\-. lea\ing mail for farmers, charging them fifty 
cents per month. 



FRANK H. BEFXER, M. D. 

Though the voung man Avhosc name heads this sketch can not claim 
long experience, he has shown by the purposes which have thus far guided 
his life, and the ideals which have actuated him, that he is one whose influence 
in the comunmity will ever be for right and progress, and who will always 
continue to deserve the esteem of his fellows while he ])ursues his present 
course. The son of a successful farmer and business man, he early felt a call- 
ing to the profession of medicine and began its study at the earliest opi)ortun- 
ity. No man can do more for the advancement of his community than the phy- 
sician of intellect, heart and courage, who lives true to the ethics of this pro- 
fession which comes closer to the majority of mankind than an\ other. 

Frank H. Beeler, the son of John B. and Sarah ( Mcflarry) Beeler, was 
born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, on August 30, 1885. l'"rank L. McHarry, 
maternal grandfather, built the canal at the falls at Louisville. Kentucky, .and 
was owner of a line of steam and ferry boats, and was a well-known and 
prominent man especially among steambo;ft men. (irandfather John Henry 
Beeler passed the greater portion of his lif^ in Kentucky, and there was laid 
away to his final rest. John B. Beeler was born in Kentucky in 1846, and 
lives at New Albany, Indiana. He is a gravel road contractor, owns several 
famis, and has made a success of business undertakings, as well as accumu- 
lating even greater wealth in the numljer of strong friendships which he has 
made where\er he goes. Sarah McHarry was torn in Kentucky on August 18, 
i8rio. As a result of her marriage to John B. Beeler there were Ixirn twelve 
children, eight of whom sur\-ived their father. 

The father of the subject is a believer in education, and offered his chil- 
dren all reasonable opportunities to obtain it. Frank H. graduated at a small 
town high .school, and later at the ^Manual Training High School at Louisville. 



448 PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Kentucky. He then attended the Kentucky Medical University at Louisville, 
graduating from it, and was for some time connected with St. Edward's Hos- 
pital at New Albany, Indiana. In 1908 he started practicing at Bosweil, Wis- 
consin, later removed to Terre Haute, Indiana, and on March 30, 191 1, came 
to Clinton, where he bought town property and took up the practice of his 
profession. Though success was at first slow, he now has a good and in- 
creasing practice and stands well with the members of his profession. 

Doctor Beeler adheres to the Catholic faith of his mother. In politics 
he is a Democrat. He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, and 
a man of influence in the local branch of that organization. 



LUCIUS OWEN BISHOP. 

The most elaborate history is necessarily an abridgement, the liistoriau 
being compelled to select his facts and materials from a multitude of details. 
So in every life of honor and usefulness the biographer finds no dearth of 
incident, and yet in summing up the career of any man the writer needs touch 
only the most salient points, giving only the keynote of his character, and 
eliminating much that is superfluous. Consequently in calling the reader's 
attentii.in to the life record of Lucius Owen Bishop no attempt will lie made to 
recount all the important acts in his useful life, for it is deemed that onl\- 
a few of them will show him to be worthy of a place in this volume along w ith 
his fellows of high standing and recognized worth, men who have figured in 
the growth ami prosperity of the section of the state with which they are 
identified. 

Lucius Owen Bishop, editor and publisher of tlie Clinfoii Ar(/iis. one of 
the ])est known and most popular newspapers of Vermillion county, is sr native 
of the city of Clinton, where he was born on April 17. 1859. He is a son of 
Francis Marion and Malinda (Anderson) Bishop, the father a native of 
Massachusetts and the mother of ^^rginia. The subject's paternal grand- 
father. Hiram Bishop, who came to Clinton county in 1852. was a well 
known contractor and builder. Among his public works was the construc- 
tion of a massive timber bridge across the Wabash river at Clinton in 
1852-3. He married Sabrina Chapman and tliey became the parents nf four 
children, of whom the eldest was Francis M., the subject's father. Hiram 
Bisho]) made Clinton his home until his death, which occurred in the spring 



FARKE AND VF.UMII.LION COUXTIF.S, INDIANA. 449 

of 1874. l^rancis Al. Bishup accompanied his ialher lo Clinloii in 185^ and 
here followed the vocations of architect and decorator, in which he acquired 
a good reputation, lie made Clinton his residence from the time he came 
here until his death, in 1905. in 1858 he married Aialinda Anderson, who 
bore him three children, the subject of this sketch being the eldest. The other 
two are Edwin Anderson Bishop, of i.ihertw ille. Illinois, and .Sarah Bishup. 
of Clintun. The mother of these children died in 1871. and in 1874 .Mr. 
Bishop married Jennie llighill, of Newport, liy whom he had Uiree children, 
of whom only one is living, Ethel Bishop. 

Lucius O. Bishop secured his elementarx' educalinn in ihe public scIiodIs 
of Clinton, and in 1877 he took up the study of law under the preceptorage 
of Henry A. \\'hite. of Clinton. He made good headwax' in mastering the 
principles of law and in a small wav he began the practice ]>efore he att.ained 
his majorit)'. But his legal ambitions were laid aside in 1871) when he en- 
tered the field of journalism, as one of the ])ublisliers of the Clinton Herald. 
In 1882 the partnership which had been formed was dissoKx'd and Mr. 
Bishop founded the Cliiit'>ii .-Iri/iis in .\ugust nf that year, and he has since 
remained in sole control of the pajier. i'be .lr</iis is a weekly newsjiaper 
and was established as an indeiiendent Re])ublican paper, but in 1884 its 
political faith was changetl to tliat of radical Democracy, adxocating the 
single-tax. free-trade democracy of llenry George. Mr. Bishop was thf 
first man in Indiana to volunteer with Henry George and the Argus was the 
first single tax pajier in the coruitrv east of San I'rancisco. Typographically, 
the Argus is the equal of anv of its contemporaries, while as a dispen.ser of 
current local news it is all that could be desired, its etficiency being attested 
bv the splendid subscription list which sends it into homes in all parts of \'er- 
million and I'.irke counties. Its editorial utterances arc forceful and exert a 
definite influence in moulding public thought and o])inion. Mr. r.ishop takes 
no half-wav ground on the great questions on which men and ])arties ilitl'er 
and his support mav always he counted upon in favor of all movements hav- 
ing for their object the upbuilding of the community in every right way. 
Personally. Mr. Bishop is a man of strong character and ])ositive opinions: 
possesses excellent business qualifications, and. though he has met with a 
notable success in the field of journalism, lie is very unassuming and genial, 
and because of his excellent worth he enjoys the good will of all who know 
him. 

On November ^o. 180:;. Mr. Bishop was married to Jennie A. Ringo. a 

r29) 



450 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

native of Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, and the daughter of George and 
Elizaljeth (Mann) Ringo. To Mr. and Airs. Bishop have been torn two 
children, Mar\- Elizabeth and Henr\- ( leorge, both of whom are in school. 

Political!}'. ^Ir. Bishop is a Democrat and in 1893 '^^"^s appointed post- 
master of Clinton bj- President Cleveland, serving over three years to the 
entire satisfactinn of l)Oth the patrons of the office and the gn\-ernment. 



GEORGE W. SPENCER, JR. 

-Vmong the progressive and enterprising citizens of Parke county who 
have achieved a definite measure of success in a diversity of vocations and 
have at the same time assisted materially in the upbuildin;^ and development 
of the county, is George W. Spencer, Jr., the present able and jjojiular in- 
cumbent of the office of county treasurer, who was for many vears one of the 
most successful and best liked educators and later one of Parke county's en- 
terprising merchants. He is deserving of mention in a work of the province 
assigned to the one in hand along with the other leading citizens of Parke 
and Vennillion counties, because he has led a life that is highly commendable 
in ever\^ respect. 

.Mr. Spencer was Ixmu in (heene township. Parke county, Indiana, July 
12, 1871, on a farm which his grandfather entered from the go\ernment in 
1831. His parents were George W.. Sr., and Marv (Clark) Spencer. The 
father also was a native of Parke county, born on the farm on which his 
father, John Spencer, settled in 1831. and he has continued to reside there 
throughout his life, and has kept the old jilace well cultivated and well im- 
proved. The mother of the subject was born at Judson, Parke county, and 
died at her home October 3, 1912. To these parents ten children have been 
born, nine of whom are still living, namely: John, living at Russellville, Put- 
nam county, this state ; Jesse lives on the home farm : Allen also has remained 
on the homestead; William died when thirteen years old: George W., Jr., of 
this review ; Frank lives near Parkeville. this county, on a farm : Elsie is the 
wife of Elmer M. McCutcheon. of Milligan, Parke county: Aria lives with her 
father at the home place : Wilbur lives near Wa\eland, Montgomer\- county, 
Indiana ; Fred is farming in Parke county. 

George W. Spencer. Sr., was born Nox-ember 14, 1840. He has devoted 
his life to agricultural pursuits, and at one time he served as trustee of Greene 
township. 



PARKE AND VKRMII.I.IOX COUXTIliS, INDIAXA. 43I 

Cieorge W. Spencer, Jr.. spent liis boyhood clays on the home farm and 
there assisted with tlie general work during crop seasons, and in the winter 
time he attended the rural schools in his neighborhood. .Vfter graduating from 
the common schools, he attended the State Xornial School at Terre Haute 
for two years, then began teaching in (ireene township of his native county, 
and continued to teach there for four years, then taught one year in Mecca 
and four terms at Milligan, all in I'arke county, lie .gave eminent satisfac- 
tion as a teacher and his ser\ices were in great demand, iMually tiring n\ the 
school room, he purchased a general store at the town n\ Milligan before fin- 
ishing his last term of school. He was in partnership with his brother; this 
was in 1901 and the\- conducted that enterjjrise w ith much success for a ])eriod 
of seven years, or until i()o8; liis i)rc)tl)er. however, had sold nut his interest 
two years previously to another man. 

The subject was elected trustee of (ireene lnwnship in HJ04, and ser\-ed in 
that capacity most faithfully until the fall nf n^d.S. when he resigned to accept 
the ofifice of county treasurer, to which he had been elected on the Democratic 
ticket that year, and he made such a commendable showing in that capacity 
that he was re-elected in igio. He is regarded as one of the best treasurers 
the county has ever had, being a hard worker, careful and honest. 

Mr. S])encer was the U(jiuinee nf ]u> party fur representative tn the 
Legislature in 19 12. The county is nominally Republican In aliout six hun- 
dred votes, but owing to our subject's prominence with all classes he was 
again elected to the ofifice sought. He enjoys the distinction of being the only 
Democratic representative from his county in fifty years, except the Hon. 
Dick Miller, elected in 1896 by a fusion of Democrats and Populists. 

Mr. Spencer was married on June 3, i(S9(>, to Cora .\. Stuart, daughter 
of Zeno and Jane (Hadley) Stuart, a prominent family of Hendricks county, 
Indiana. She was formerly a teacher. ha\ ing taught two or three years in her 
uati\e count} and one year in Henry county, this state. Herfather was a na- 
tive of North Carolina. He and his w ife are IxDth now deceased. They liecame 
the parents of seven children, four of whom arc now living, namely: Melviu. 
who makes his home in Hendricks county, Indiana: Cora .\., wife of Mr. 
Spencer: Tillie. deceased: Osie is the wife of John W. l*"igg, ex-county super- 
intendent of Hendricks county, but now teaching at Plainfield, Indiana: Olie 
is the wife of I'rank McCormick. a merchant of Danville. Indiana. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Spencer six children have been torn, namely : Hoyt S.. 
bom April 14. 1897. was graduated from the common schools and is now in 
high school: (iladys. born October 16. 1898. is also in high school: Dwight, 



452 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

born January j/, 1901 ; Olive, born September 22, 1902: Kieth. born Decem- 
ber II, 1905 : Kent, born October 8. 1907. 

Fraternally, Mr. Spencer belongs to the Alodern Woodmen at \Va\e- 
land, Montgomery county. Indiana, since 1908. He also belongs to the 
Knights of Pythias at Rock-\-ille. The family attends the Christian church 
and are faithful in their support of the same. 



ROBERT HENRY NIXON. 

The two most strong!}- marked characteristics of both the East and the 
West are combined in the residents of \'ermillion and Parke counties. The 
enthusiastic enterprise which overleaps all obstacles and makes possible almost 
any undertaking in the comjmratively new and \-igorous middle West is here 
tempered by the stable and more careful policy that we ha\e borrowed from 
our Eastern neighbors, and the combination is one of peculiar force and power. 
It has l>een a means of placing this section on a par with the older East, at the 
same time producing a reliability and certainty in Imsiness affairs which is 
frequently lacking in the West. This happ^■ combination of characteristics is 
possessed to a notable degree by Rubert Henry Xixon, well known hanker 
and business man of Newport, one of the worthiest of \"ermillion county's 
nati\"e sons, whose influence during a ^■ery industrious and useful life has made 
for the general progress of the localit\- of which this volume deals. He is too 
well known to the readers of this work to need any formal introduction here, 
his career having conferred credit on the state and his marked abilities and 
sterling qualities ha\ing won for him more than local repute. Strong mental 
powers, invincible courage and a determined purpose that hesitates at no op- 
position have so entered into his composition as to render him a dominant fac- 
tor in the business world and a leader of men. He is essentially a man of 
afifairs. of sound judgment, keen discernment and rare acumen, far-seeing in 
what he undertakes, and e\ery enterprise to which he has addressed himself 
has been successful. His success in life has been the legitimate fruitage of 
consecutive efifort. directed and controlled bv good judgment and correct prin- 
ciples. 

Mr. Nixon is the scion of a sterling old pioneer family that was popular 
and influential in this locality in the days of the early setders. He was born 
at Newport, Indiana. May 24, 1842, and the major part of his three score and 
ten years have been spent in his native community. He is a son of Joshua 



PARKi; .\Xn*\ER.MII.l.ION COI'NTIKS, IXDIAXA. 433 

and Margaret (I-ovejoy) Xixon. IxUh natives of Ailanis county, Ohio, wiicre 
they spent their earlier years, and there the father learned the trade of cabinet- 
maker and a llat-boat l^uildcr, also operated a flat boat on the Mississippi 
river, making twenty-one trips from Ohio to \e\v Orleans. He built a house 
boat at Ripley, Ohio, on which he floated down the Ohio river t(j the mouth 
of the Wabash, ascending the latter, and located at the frontier village of New- 
port, Indiana, in 1831. He here continued to follow big trade of cabinet- 
maker and Hat-boat builder, estalilishing the jiermanent home of the family 
here, and his death occurred at this home at the age of sixty-four years. He 
had but one child. Robert Henry, of this re\iew. Religiously, the formfer was 
a Alethodist, and in politics a Whig, later a Re])ublican, and allying himself 
with the Know-Nothing part\- when it was launched, lie was known for his 
honesty, hospitalit}- and industry and \\as ])opular with ri\ermen o\er the 
country and the early settlers of Newport. 

Robert H. Nixon was ])orn in a log house in \ew])i)rl, and here he grew 
to manhood and \\as educated. L'jion the commencement of the war of the 
stales he enlisted for serx'ice w ith the national troops, Com])any (.". I-lighteenth 
Indiana \'olunteer Infantry, on July 20, 1861, at Cam]i Morton, Indianapolis, 
and he saw considerable hard service in Missouri and .\rkansas. being under 
fire at Paw Paw, in the former state, and for meritorious conduct he was pro- 
moted to the rank of sergeant. He was discharged <in March j(;. i8()2. at 
Cross Timber, Arkansas, on accoimt of disability, .\fter recovei-iiig his 
health he entered the drug business on February 1 1. i8f>3, and continued suc- 
cessfully in the same until 181)3. or a ])eriod of thirty years, during which his 
was one ni the best known and must ]i(ipnlar drug stores in tliis part of the 
^^'abash \alle\ . In that year he w as burned out. He then enteretl the banking 
business, which he still follows. He had organized the bank of R. H. Xixon 
at his home town, Newport, on January 1. 187J. with a capital stock of five 
thousand dollars, which succeeded Imm the start under his able management 
and graduallv grew with adxancing years until it is now one of the most 
popular, sound and conservative banking institutions in western Indiana. Its 
officers at present are: R. FI. Xixon. president: H. \'. Xixon. cashier: R. R. 
Nixon, assistant cashier. The stockholders are: Ida Xixon (lalloway. of 
South Bend: JMary Nixon Davis, of Terre Haute: Lena Xixon Travis, of 
Fort AX'avne: R. H. Nixon. H. V. Nixon. B. R. Nixon and Marie Nixon, all 
of Newport. The capital stock is now thirty thousand dollars, with a surplus 
of fifteen thousand dollars. They carry on a general banking business, under 
the firm name of R. II. Xixon & Company, Hankers. The\ have a substantial 



454 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and atlrafti\e bank Iniilding. and the safe and other fixtures and furnishings 
are up-to-date in e\er\- respect. The bank owns two valuable, productive and 
well improved farms in this locality, one of two hundred and thirty-nine acres 
and the other of two hundred and eighty acres. Rol^ert H. Xixon owns per- 
sonally one thousand three hundred thirty-fl\e and one-half acres, all tillable 
but one hundred acres. It is all well improved and fertile. He is also a stock- 
holder in the State Bank of West Terre Haute, a director in the Union Trust 
Company of Indianapolis, also a stockholder in the McKeen National Bank and 
the United States Tmst Company, both of Terre Haute. He has been very 
successful in a financial way and is one of the substantial men of this section 
of the state, wielding a potent and wide influence in financial and business 
circles. 

Politically, 'Sir. Nixon is a Republican and is a leader in local party 
afifairs. He was a delegate to the Republican national con\ention in 1888. He 
was a member and treasurer of the Newport school board for a period of 
twenty-four years. Fraternally, he is a Mason. 

The domestic life of Mr. Nixon began on October 16, 1865. when he led 
to the hymeneal altar a lady of culture and refinement, known in her maiden- 
hood as Maria Hefflerman, who was born in Vermillion township, \'ermillion 
county. Indiana, and is a daughter of Elias Hefflerman and wife, a highly 
esteemed family of that section. The union of Mr. Xixon and wife has been 
graced by the birth of seven children, named as follows : Blanche, who mar- 
ried Fred Collett, is deceased; Ida is the wife of Dr. U. G. Galloway, of South 
Bend; Marv married O. D. Davis, of Terre Haute: Lena is the wife of 
Claude E. Travis, of Fort W'ayne : Bertha died when eight years old: H. \'. 
and B. R. are assisting their father in the bank. 

Personally. Mr. Nixon is a gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet, 
unassuming, genial, obliging, a man of public spirit, unusual business ability 
and industry and a man of scruijulous honesty and high ideals, progressi\-e in 
his thought and wholesome in his prixate and Inisiness life. 



ALFRED H. STARK. 



Energy, sound judgment and persistency of effort will always win the 
goal sought in the sphere of human endea\or, no matter what the enxiron- 
ment may be or what obstacles are met with, for they who are endowed with 
such characteristics make of their adversities stepping stones to higher things. 
These reflections are suggested by the career of Alfred H. Stark, president of 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 455 

the Parke State Bank, at Rockville, and a man who has Ions; ranked as one of 
the leading; financiers and representative citizens of I'arke and X'ermillion 
counties, having forged his way to the front ranks of men of affairs through 
his own efforts. He has been for many years an important factor in business 
circles of tlie thriving little city of which he is native and wlicrc he has been 
pleased to spend his life, and his [)opularity is well deser\ed, as in him are 
embraced the characteristics of an unswerving honesty and public s])irit that 
never flags. 

.Alfred H. .Stark was born on July 16. 1866, in Rockxillc. Indiana, an'l is 
the son of .Alfred K. and Sarah ( Harris) Stark, Iwth natives of Rockville 
and each representing prominent pioneer families, .\lfred K. Stark, who was 
born on Februar\- 14. 1840, has been a lifelong resident of Rockville. In 
1855, at the age of fifteen years, he entered business as a clerk in the drug 
store of Coffin & Da\is. In 1862 he purchased a half interest in the business 
and 1864 bought the remaining interest. A year later he sold an interest in 
the store to his brother, D. W. Stark, and, under the name of Stark Brothers, 
the business was continued until their stock was destroyed l)y lire on .Septem- 
ber 17. 1870. In 1873 Alfred K. Stark became associated with Messrs. Tate 
and Coulter as original proprietors of the I'arke I'anking Compan\-. Later 
he became president of the l)ank, which became known as liie Parke State 
Bank, its present name. Mr. Stark has been an inlluential business man for a 
half century and at present he is chairman o\ the board of directors of the 
bank. ,\lfred K. Stark was twice in the military service of his country during 
the Civil war. having served as a private in Comjiauy C. Seventy-eighth In- 
diana Volunteer Infantry, and as an orderly sergeant in Company !•". One 
Hundred and Thirty-third Indiana Regiment. 

Alfred H. Stark, the immedi;ile subject of this review, grew to man- 
hood in Rockville and received a public school education there, which has 
been supplemented by close home reading of a miscellaneous nature and by 
wide observation and actual experience in the business world. When twenty 
years of age he began his Inisiness career by taking a position in the Parke 
State Bank. Imoui tlie beginning he exhibited uiutsual aliilily in this line of ef- 
fort, consetiuentlv his rise was rapid, and in i88f) he was made assi.stant cash- 
ier. .\bout 1889 he became cashier and in 1908 he was elected to the presitlency 
of the institution, the duties of which responsible ])Osition he has continued to 
discharge to the present time in a manner that reflects much credit upon him- 
self and to the eminent satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons. The ex- 
cellent prestige of this sound and popular institution, which has long wielded 
a potent influence in financial and commercial affairs in this and adjoining 



456 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

counties, has been due in no ^mall measure to his energv, \\ ise counsel anil able 
management. 

Mr. Stark was married on October 18. 1892. to INIary Thomson, daugh- 
ter of William M. Thomson, a well known merchant of Rockville. in which 
city ^Irs. Stark grew to womanhood and received her education and where 
she has always been popular with a large circle of friends. This union has been 
without issue. 

Fraternally, Mr. Stark is a thirty-second-degree Mason and has long 
been active in that order. He belongs to the Memorial Presbyterian church of 
Rockville and is a liberal supporter of the same, being one of its trustees and 
most influential workers. Politically, he is a Republican, but not a biased 
partisan or active in the ranks ; however, his support may always be depended 
upon in furthering any movement looking to the betterment of his town or 
county in any way. He has been very successful in a business way, and in 
connection with the Ijank he is the owner of a \alualile and well improved 
farm, in which he takes much interest. He is a fine type of the progressive, 
far-seeing, obliging and genteel business man of the twentieth century. 



JOHN A. LINEBARGER. 

The men most influential in promoting the advancement of societ}- and in 
giving character to the times in which the)- live are two classes — the men of 
study and the men of action. Whether we are not more indebted for the im- 
provement of the age to the one class ov the other is a (|uestion of honest dif- 
ference of opinion: neither can be spared and both should he encouraged to 
occupy their several spheres of labor and influence zealously and without 
mutual distrust. In the following paragraphs are briefl\' outlined the leading 
facts and characteristics in the career of a gentleman who combines in his 
make-up the elements of the scholar and the energy of the public-spirited man 
of affairs. Devoted to the noble and humane work of teaching. Prof. John A. 
Linebarger, the efficient and popular superintendent of the Rockville public 
schools, Parke county. Indiana, has made his influence felt in a most potent 
manner in the localitx" of which this history treats. .Ml who come within range 
of his influence are profuse in their praise of his admirable qualities, and the 
high regard in which he is held, not only profesionall\- but socially, indicates 
the possession of attril)utes and characteristics tliat fully entitle him to the 
res]iect and consideration of his fellow men. 



PARKE AND VERMIIJ.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 457 

John A. I,inebai"ger was born in W'csl L'nion. Reserve township. J'arke 
county, Indiana, on February 28. iHjf), ami he is the son of George and 
Mariah (Hocker) Linebarger. both also natixes of I^arkc county. George 
Linebarger, who still lives at West Union, is a farmer by vocation and pos- 
sesses those sterling qualities which have gained for him ,1 high standing 
among the best men in his community. The subject's paternal grandfather. 
Andrew Linebarger, was a native of North Carolina, and came to Parke 
county in 1822, being numbered among the pioneers of this section of the 
state. He settled at West Union, where he siient the remainder nf his life, 
dying on April 28, 1907. at the advanced age of ninety-two years. He was 
married twice, first to Elizabeth Burton and then to Mary Warner, and be- 
came the father of fifteen children. To George and Mariah Linebarger were 
born six children, of whom four are living, those besides the subject being 
Mary and Melvina, at home, and Mrs. h-ah Scott, of Santiago. Chile, whose 
husband is a teacher of mathematics in a boys" institute there. Both of the 
subject's parents taught in the schools of Parke county |)rior to their marriage. 

John A. Linebarger received his elementary education in the common 
schools of Reserve township, following which he entered Dc I'auw I'niver- 
sity, at Greencastle, where he spent seven years, three years in the preparatorj'^ 
department and four years in the college proper. He was graduated in June, 
1897. with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and took the Phi Beta Kappa 
honors. He was also a tutor in Greek for two years in the university while a 
student. Following his graduation. Professor Linebarger was for two years 
engaged in teaching school in his home township, following which he gave 
two years' service as principal of the high school at l'"owler. Indian.-i. I le then 
became superintendent of the public .schools at ^lonleziima, this county, re- 
maining there for four years and establishing a record for etihciency and abil- 
itv that was bound to receive larger recognition. Se\en \ears ago he was of- 
fered and accepted the position of superintendent of the schools at Rockville. 
in which position he has been retained from year to year, his administration of 
the schools being eminently satistactory to both l)oard and patrons. He has 
brought the schools u]) to a standard of elticiency thai r.mks them w ith any in 
this section of the stale, due to his force of character, ability as an organizer 
and the results of his professional exi)erience. He has sliown himself to be a 
man of progressive ideas, broad-minded, and he keeps fully abreast of the 
times in all matters jjcrtaining to his profession. His work i> character- 
istically practical and in teaching or in superintending and arranging the 
course of studv. he possesses to a notable degree the sense of proportion and 
fitness. Although a school man in the broadest and best sense of the term. 



458 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Professor Linebarger has he\er become narrow or pedantic, but is a well- 
rounded, synimetrically-dexelopcd man, fully alive to the demands of the 
times, thoroughly informed on the leading questions before the ixiblic and 
takes broad views of men and things. 

His abilities have lieen recognized by his professional brethren through 
the state and he is a prominent member of the Southern Indiana Teachers' As- 
sociation, comprising three thousand members, l>eing the present cliairman of 
that body. 

Religiouslv. Professor Linebarger is a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church, in the activities of which he is deeply interested, especially in the 
Sunday school where he is the teacher of the men's Biljle class of one hun- 
dred and thirty-five members. Fraternally, he is member of the Free and 
Accepted Masons, while his social affiliation is with the Shakespeare Club, a 
leading literarv club of Rockville. As president of the Rockville Chautauciua 
Association, Professor Linebarger has been an important factor in the suc- 
cess which has attended the institution, for in this, as in everything to which 
he bends his energies, he gives the very best that is in him. His support may 
alwavs be counted upon in favor of every movement having for its object the 
advancement of the city's best interests. 

On November 22, 1905. John A. Linebarger was married to Iva Blue, of 
Montezuma, the daughter of James M. and Mary A. (Brown) Blue, a well 
known Parke countv family. Mr. Blue died on December 28, 1907, being sur- 
vived bv his widow. 



JOSEPH WILBOURN AMIS. 

Success in what are popularly termed the learned professions is the 
legitimate 'result of merit and painstaking endeavor. In commercial life one 
niav come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or gift, 
but professional advancement is gained only b}" critical study and c(jnsecuti\'e 
research long continued. Proper intellectual discipline, thorough professional 
knowledge and the possession and utilization of the cjualities and attributes 
essential to success have made Joseph W. Amis, of Clinton, Indiana, eminent 
in his chosen calling, and he now stands among the scholarly and able lawyers 
in a community long distinguished for the high order of its legal talent. His 
professional life has been characterized by not only the most adroit ability, 
but also by a broad human sympathy and an innate sense of actual justice, for 
when a youth he realized that there is no honor not founded on genuine 



PARKE AND VERiM II.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 459 

worth, there is a vital purpose in life and tliat tlio best and hii;liest accom- 
plishment must come from a well-trained mind and an altruistic heart. 

Joseph W. Amis was born in Clinton township, \'ermilli(in county, In- 
diana, on P'ehruary i.S, 1868, and is the only child of (Jarret and jane I Clover) 
Amis, lx)th of whom also were nati\es of Clinton townshi]). The subject is 
the descendant in the sixth generation from the noted l-'rench llu^uenot, |olin 
Amis, whose son, Thomas Amis, was the progenitor (jf the family in America. 
The subject's paternal great-grandfather was John Amis, of the same name 
as his noted French ancestor. In an early day. and while still a youth. John 
Amis emigrated to Kentuckx . locating on (joosc creek, where he ac(|uired a 
large tract of land, becoming one of the most prominent and influential men 
of the eastern part of that state. He met a tragic death bv assassination in 
1808. His son, Wilbourn Amis, who was Ijorn in i7()8, was, after the death 
of his father, taken to Rogersville, Tennessee, where he received his educa- 
tion and was reared to manhood, .\mong his children was (iarret .\mis, 
father of the subject of this sketch, \\ ho was born on July 23, 1838, and who 
ia now an honored resident of New Goshen, ^'^igo county, Indiana, having for 
many years been successfully engaged as a farmer and stock man. When the 
subject was but two years old, his mother died, and subse(|uently his father 
married Elizabeth Pinson, a representative of one of the prominent and well- 
known pioneer families of Vigo county, and whose death occiuMed on Jul\ 13, 
1908. To this second union were born two children. Xettie, of Xew Coshen, 
Indiana, and James T.. of Wallace. Kansas. 

Joseph W". Amis secured his elementary education in the ])ublic schools 
at New Goshen, Indiana, and Oswego, Kansas, and the high school at Boli- 
var. Missouri. He then took a business course in a college at Delaware, Ohio, 
and also ])repared himself in pedagogy at the State Normal School at Terre 
Haute. During the period from 1886 to 1892 Mr. .\mis engaged in teaching 
school in Vigo and Vermillion counties, gaining a well earned reputation as an 
able and successful educator. In the meantime he had determined to take ui> 
the practice of law for his life work and to this end he had spent his leisure 
hours in the study of Blackstone, Kent and other standard legal authorities. 
In 1890 he was admitted to the bar of \'i.go count)- and in i89(; he was ad- 
mitted to practice in the United States courts. In 1892 Mr. Amis entered 
upon the active practice of the law in Clinton and has continued here since, 
with the exception of two years, from November, 1806. to November. i8()8. 
when he was located at Newport as a partner of the late Judge Charles W. 
Ward. 



460 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

With body and mind strengthened by the sturdy and self-rehant work of 
a farmer's son, and his school training supplemented by experience as a teach- 
er, Mr. Amis entered upon the practice of law well qualified for success. It is 
not often that true honor, public or private, comes to a man without basis in 
character, and during his residence in Clinton, its people ha\'e had ample 
means to know what manner of man Mr. Amis is. The consensus of testi- 
mon}- is that he is a good citizen in the full sense of the term, and worthy of 
public confidence. As a lawyer, he is well informed in his jirofession and 
faithful to his clients and the law. His mind is strong, judicial and well bal- 
anced, impartial and just. He ]jossesses a rare ecpianimit}' of temper and a 
courtesy which has won for him the sincere regard of his associates at the 
bar. Hs is an honest and fair practitioner, taking no part in the tricks of the 
pettifogger or lawyer of low degree, which sometimes casts odium upon a pro- 
fession which should ever be one of truth and honor. His personal life is 
above reproach, being a man of good morals, temperate and self-controlled. 
Mr. Amis has had great success as a general practitioner and has kepi well 
abreast the times in all that pertains to his profession. He has always made 
it a rule not to take a case in hand unless he was thoroughly convinced as to 
the absolute merits of his client's cause, and this has been one of the secrets of 
the uniform success which has attended him. 

In one line of effort alone he has earned the gratitude of the citizens of 
his county, namely, on behalf of good roads, of which he is an ardent advo- 
cate. Mr. .\mis has probablv accomplished more for the establishment and 
construction of good roads in Vermillion county than any oiber man. He 
has handled more petitions for gravel roads than any other man, and fortv- 
five of such roads in this county have been constructed as the direct result of 
petitions presented by him and most of which were ratified bv three out of 
four successful gravel road elections. In the examination and correction of 
land titles in \^ermillion countv Mr. .\mis has also done a vast amount of 
work, his labors along this line undoubtedly surpassing any other lawver in 
volume of business. Thoroughly accurate and reliable in important matters 
of this kind, he has honestly earned the large clientage which he now com- 
mands. He is at all times controlled by a high code of ethics and among his 
professional brethren he is held in the highest regard. 

Originally a stanch Democrat in his political afifiliations, Mr. Amis was 
in iSqo and again in i<S92 nominated by his party for the office of state's at- 
torney for Parke and Vermillion counties without any solicitation upon his 
part for the honors : however, at the ensuing elections he was defeated w ith 



PARKE AND \I:R.\I Il.I.IOX COUNTIES, INMlIANA. 46I 

the rest of the ticket, lie has ahvays assunieil an iiulo[)en(leiH attilude in 
politics and in 1912 identified liiniself with the new Progressive ])arty. taking 
an active part in advocating its platform of j^-inciples. Rv tliat part\- lie was 
nominated for congressman from the fifth chstrict. and made a vigorous can- 
vass of the district, becoming a popular idol of his party, and lie stands high 
in the councils of the Progressive leaders in Indiana, h'raternally. .Mr. .\mis 
is a member of the Knights of Pythias and .Modern Woodmen of .\merica, 
though his large professional practice precludes his giving much time or at- 
tention to fraternal matters. 

On October 15, 1892, Mr. Amis was married to (^live James, the daugh- 
ter of E. Wright and Sarah ( Walker) James, a well know-n family of Helt 
township, Vermillion count). Indiana. To this union have been liorn three 
children, namely: Mary, who is a graduate of the Clinton high school, win- 
ning the honors of her class, and who is now a student in the State Xormal 
School at Terre Haute; Herman is a student in the high school, and i\ol)ert 
Burns, who also is in school. 



FRANK H. NICHOLS. 

Standing in an eminent position among the men of affairs of i'arke and 
Vermillion counties is Frank H. Nichols, who is recognized as one of Rock- 
ville's leading citizens, having for a number of years lieen the able and popular 
president of the Rock\ille National Bank, the re])utation for soundness and 
conservatism of which has spread all ox'cr western Indiana, as a result of his 
wise management. His success has been won entirely along old and time- 
tried maxims, such as "Honesty is the best policy." and "There is no excellence 
without labor." 

Mr. Nichols was born in Rockville, Indiana, .\u.gust id, iSh.^ the son 
of Jonathan and Martha B. (McEwen) Nichols. The father was a native of 
Rloomington. Indiana, and the mother, of Rockville. ISy trade the father was 
a tinner, later he turned his attention to the mercantile business, as a member 
of the firm of Nichols & Silliman. one of the oldest merchants of Rockville. 
He was one of the builders of the old woolen mills here. He went to Cali- 
fornia with the famous ''forty-niners." and spent two years in the gold fields 
there. He drove a team to Westport (now Kansas City) and mules from 
there to his destination. He came to Parke county, Indiana, in an early day, 
alx)ut 1842. and earlv in its history he l)ecame identified with the National 
Rank of Rockville and in 1S73 became president of the same, discharging the 



462 PARKE AND VERMII.I.IOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

duties of that important position for a period of twenty years, retiring from 
this institution in 1893. His death occurred in 1909. His widow still lives 
in Rockville. making her home with her son. Frank H.. of this review, her 
only other child, a daughter, having died when six years old. A complete 
sketch of Jonathan M. Nichols occurs elsewhere in this history. 

Frank H. Nichols grew to manhood in Rockville and he recei\ed his 
early education in the public schools here. He came into the bank of which 
his father was president when a young man, working for some time, then 
spent eight years in Indianapolis and Greenfield, Indiana. Then returning 
to Rockville, he became cashier of the above mentioned bank on Januar}- i, 
1894, and at the death of Mr. Catlin he was made president, which position 
he still holds, to the eminent satisfaction of the .stockholders and patrons. He 
is a man of progressive ideas, keeps \\ ell alireast of the times, especialh' in all 
that pertains to the banking Ijusiness, and his uniform courtesy and high prin- 
ciples of honor and his public spirit have rendered him jjopular with the people. 

Mr. Nichols was married in 1903 to Olive Hunnicutt, who was lx)rn in 
Richmoiid. Indiana, and whose death occurred on September 30, 1908. She 
was the daughter of a jirominent famil\- of Richmond and was a ladv of man\' 
estimable attributes. 

Mr. Nichols is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is well known 
in Masonic circles, a member of the Scottish Rite and the .Ancient .Arabic 
Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Politically, he is a Republican and has 
long been active in the ranks. He has been city treasurer of Rockville for 
twelve or fourteen \ears. 



OUINCY A. MYERS. 



It is not always easy to discover and define the hidden forces that have 
moved a life of ceaseless activitv and large success; little more can be done 
than to note their manifestations in the career of the individual under con- 
sideration. In view of this fact the life of the gentleman whose name appears 
alio\-e affords a striking example of well defined purpose with the ability to 
make that purpose subserve not only his own ends, but the good of his fellow 
men as well. Mr. Myers long held distinctive prestige in a calling which re- 
quires for its basis earnest consecration, determined persistency and self 
discipline of a high order, without which he could not have succeeded as he 
did in the labor of the great foreign mission field. After devoting many 
of the best years of his life to this work, with the most pronounced .success. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 463 

.Ml". Alyers is nuw l>ack in his native coniniunity, a(.-iii(.-\ in,i;' e(|na! snccess in 
the less strenuous held ol business, in whicii liis a1)iiities liave been recognized 
and acknowledged. 

Ouinc}' A. ]\lycrs was horn ni .\c\\])urt, N'erniillinn cnnnl\. Indiana, on 
August 14, 1867, and is the sun of William C. and .Maria (Burson) Myers, 
the former also a native of \'ermillion county. The subject's paternal grand- 
father, George W. Myers, came from Maysville, Kentucky, to \'ermillion 
county, Indiana, in 1820, settling west of Newport, where he followed farm- 
ing. He entered land from the government, the jjatent for which, signed 
b)- President \'anlUuen, is now in the subject's possession. William C. 
Myers followed farming all his life and occupied an enviable jjosition in the 
comnnmity. Politicall\- a Rei)ublican, he was elected sheriff of W-rmillion 
county and rendered faithful ser\ice in that capacil\- during the ])eriod from 
1880-1884. To him and his wife were born three ihildrcn. nanielv : ()uiuc\ 
A., the subject of this sketch;: William C, of Newport, and Clara I",., the 
wife of Alfred K. Harvey, of Kansas City, Missouri. 

Quincy A. Myers secured his elementary education in ihe ])ubhc schools 
and then, after special ])reparati()n. was sent by the foreign mission board of 
the Methodist I'^iiscopal church to China as a missionary. I le was stationed 
at Chungkin,g. China, for sixteen years, taking an active and eiYective part in 
the labors of that field, lie was honored bv selection as presiding elder, in 
which capacity he served se\eral years, was treasurer of the west China mis- 
sion for ei,ght years, and also ser\ed as superintendent of the Boys" High 
School and the Biblical Training School. 

.\fter many years of faithful service in the foreign field, during which 
he passed through many interesting experiences, some of which were none 
too pleasant, Mr. Myers is now retired from that line of efifort and is giving 
appreciated service as cashier of the Perrysville Bank, at Perrysville, Ver- 
million count\'. This bank, which has a ca])ital of ten thousand dollars, was 
organized on March 28. K}ij, with the following officers: President. E. A. 
Lacy: vice-president, M. J. Rudy: cashier. Ouincy .\, Myers. Though in 
operation less than a year, this bank is alread.y inunbered among the .sound 
financial institutions of the county, the safe, conservative and careful policy 
of those in charge of its affairs being a guarantee of its success. These offi- 
cers are all well-known business men of established character and known 
ability and the bank is filling a long-felt want in the community. 

On November i, 1893, ^^'"- Myers was united in marriage with Cora 
Lacy, the daughter of Rlisha .\. and Martha Iv ( Wright ) Lacy, who wci% 



464 PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

from New York state. Mrs. Myers accompanied her husband to China and 
there proved herself a vakiable co-worker with him in the missionary field. 
To them were born two children. Helen and Kenneth, both being born in 
China. 

Politically, Air. Myers is a Republican and takes an intelligent interest 
in public affairs, giving his support to all movements having for their object 
the uplifting of the race or the amelioration of suffering and undesirable 
conditions. He is numbered among the best citizens of his community and as 
such is eminently deserving of representation in this work. 



MAJOR JONATHAN M. NICHOLS. 

One of the leading men of his day and generation and one of the indus- 
trial leaders of Parke countv was the late Major Jonathan M. Nichols, for 
twenty years president of the National Bank of Rockville, and a man whom 
eveiybody admired and esteemed for his industry, high sense of honor, public 
spirit and gentlemanly address. No work purporting to give a historical re- 
view of this section of Indiana would be complete were there failure to give 
his life record a conspicuous place. 

Major Nichols was born at Bloomington, Monroe count\ . Indiana. April 
6. 1S24, the son of Jonathan and Eliza (Hamilton) Nichols. His father was 
a nati\e of Tennessee, but in a very early day moved to Indiana and estab- 
lished himself in Monroe county. The elder Jonathan Nichols was a teacher 
by profession, for which he was peculiarly adapted both by nature and educa- 
tion. He always maintained a deep interest in educational matters and for a 
long time served as trustee of the State University of Bloomington. He was 
also a business man of energy and rare soundness of judgment, and he success- 
fully engaged in merchandising for a number of years. 

Jonathan M. Nichols was one of ten children. In his childhood he was a 
pupil in the Bloomington schools and he received a good education. After 
leaving school he learned the tinner's trade, and after serving his apprentice- 
ship he came to Rockville about 1842, where he followed his trade for a num- 
ber of years. He then occupied a clerkship, where he remained for some time. 
During the gold excitement of the historic year 1849 he was one of the many 
thousands who sought a fortune in the far West. With a party of six young 
jnen he made the long, perilous overland trip "to the sundown seas," leaving 
Rockville March 19th of that year and arriving in the Golden state on Octo- 



PARKE AND VKRMII.I.ION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 465 

ber isl following". He engaged in mining lliere two years, meeting with fair 
snccess. It was not, however, his intention to eslai)Hsli a permanent li(ime in 
California, and at the expiration of two years he retnrned as far east as Ken- 
tucky, where he remained a short time. Later he clerked in his former home, 
Rockville, Indiana, and then formed a partnership in the mercantile business 
with Isaac J. Sillinian. which lasted ten years, during whicli time tlie firm l)e- 
came widely known in this section of the state. Mr. Sillinian then severed his 
connection, his interest having been purchased by Thompson X: .Mcl'.wen. and 
the firm of Nichols. Thompson & McEwen was established whicli lasted until 
1864, when the entire concern sold out. and erected a wixjleii mill, whicli they 
operated with great success for a period of ten years, this ha\ ing l)een the most 
extensive manufacturing enterprise ever attempted in Rockx ille. The\- erected 
a large brick factory building on the present site of Ruhni lirutlKi^' mill and 
equipped it with the best machinery then known in wcaxing wool intd cloth. 
Expert workmen from Xew England were employed and for a time the in- 
dustry promised all that its enterprising promoters had hoped fur. but the 
general introduction of sliodd\- materials a few years after the Rockxille fac- 
torv was established made coni[)etition by honest woolen goods out of the 
question and the local factoi-\- was compelled to close. In the meantime Major 
Nichols was associated with (ien. George K. Steele. Alexander McCune and 
others in the establishment of the Eirst National P.ank ni Rockville. They 
built the beautiful three-storv Imililing in which the bank was located from 
1868 to November. igo6. when it was destroyed by tire. In 1873 Major 
Nichols was called to the presidency of tliis institution and continued at the 
helm until its afYairs were closed out. four years later. At the inception oi the 
National Bank of Rockville in 1877 he accepted the position of president and 
held the same until 1894 in a manner that retlected much credit upon his abil- 
ity and honor and to the eminent satisfaction of stockholders and patrons of 
this popular and sound institution: in fact, its great success may be said to 
have been due to his wise management and sound judgment. The Major, 
having accumulated a band.some competency through his long years of business 
activity, retired from active life in 1894. 

In 1855 Major Nichols was married, his wife dying in 1858. His second 
marriage was with Martha McEwen, and two children, Frank H.. now i)resi- 
dent of the Rockville National P.ank, and Maude S.. who died in childhood, 
were born of this last union. 

In 1862 Major Nichols laid aside the care of the extensive business w ith 
which he was connected and offered his services to his country, and, if need 
(30) 



466 PARKE AND \ERMII,LIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

be, his life, if he could thereb}- aid the Union cause, enlisting in Company C, 
Se\'enty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and he served with gallantry and 
distinction as first lieutenant, taking part in many engagements, among them 
being that at L'niontown. where Captain Howard was killed and the entire 
company captured as prisoners. 

Fraternall)'. jNIajor Xichols was a Mason. His life work was closely 
connected witli the development of Rockville. As a citizen he was always in- 
fluenced by motives that did him honor. He was for a numlier of years a 
member of the Rockville school board. He was at tlie time of his death the 
oldest member of Parke Lodge No. 8, Masonic fraternitv, in which he had 
been a member since 1849. The home and social life of Major Xichols 
endeared him to everyone. His affection for his famil\- was aljox'e all things 
in his life. Socially, he was a man whose companionship was much sought 
by the best people of the country. At all times he was a courteous, kindly, 
hos])itahle gentleman, always considerate of the rights and wants of others, 
and he ne\er intentionally ga\'e offense and ne\'er 1)\- word or deed wronged a 
fellow man. 

After an illness of less than a week. Major Nichols was summoned to his 
eternal rest at 3 o'clock, Saturday morning, June 5, 1909, his loss being keenly 
felt by the entire communit}-. and his memory will long be re\ered b\" the wide 
circle of friends he left behind. 



A. J. HUXFORD. 

In nearly every community are to l)e found indi\iduals who, ])\ innate 
ability and sheer force of character, rise above their fellows and win for 
themselves conspicuous places in public esteem. Such a one is A. J. Huxford, 
successful business man and the present jKipular incumbent of the office of 
county treasurer of \'ennillion county. He has been identified with the his- 
tory of this locality all his life, his career having been closel\- interwoven 
with the material and civic growth of Parke and Vermillion counties, wield- 
ing a potent influence in industrial circles, while his record as a progressi\e 
man of affairs has been synon}inous w ith all that is honorable. 

Mr. Huxford was born in Parke county, Indiana, October i, 1874, and 
he is a son of John and Matilda (Driver) Huxford. The father was born 
in Parke count}-, this state, on Octoljer 19, 1836, and he is still living on the 
old home place in his native county, ha\ing devoted his life successfullv to 



PARK1-: AM) \K1<.\III.I.I()\ COrNTIKS. IXDIAXA. 46" 

general agricultural [)ursuits. llis witt-. uiotlier of tlic sulijt-i-i, was suiiiuH)ni.-il 
to her eternal rest in iqo6. The family of these pareuts consisted of nine 
children, six of whom are still lixing. 

A. J. Huxford grew to manhood on the home- farm and there he assisted 
with the general work when a hoy, iecei\ing his education in the common 
schools and two years in high .school. After leaving school Mr. lln.xford 
took up farming, which he followed four years, therehy getting a good start. 
then went into the grocery husiness in Newport, and continued in that with 
a large mea.sure of success for a |)eriod of ten years, during which lime he 
enjoyed a large trade with the town and sin-rounding C(juntry. He was then 
elected to the office of county treasurer in 1910, and is at this writing incum- 
hent of that office, the important duties of which he is discharging in a manner 
that reflects much credit uimjii himself and to the eminent s;itisf;iction of .all 
concerned, irrespective of part\- alignment. 

Mr. Huxford was married in 189(1 lo Jennie .\loring. daughter of John 
Moring and wife, a highly respected family of this locality, ller father w'as 
born in Ohio, from which state he came to I'arke conut\. Indi.ana. in an earlv 
day and there he l)ecanu' well estahlisheil as a farmer. To the sullied and 
wife one child has liecn horn, Ernest M. fluxford. 

Politically, Mr. llu.xford is a Democrat and has heen loyal in hi> >u])port 
of his ])artv"s priiicii)les. He belongs to i'Ii\erside i-odge No. J4J. Knights 
of Pythias, at Newport. He has li\ed in New])ort twelve years, during which 
time he has done much for the u])building of the town, the interests of which 
he lias at heart. 



JOHN H. SPENCKR. 

Even- human being eith.er submits tt) the controlling influence of others 
or wields an influence which touches, controls, guides or misdirects others. 
If he be honest and successful in his chosen field of endeavor, investigation 
will brighten his fame and point the way along which others may follow with 
like success. Consequently, a critical stud\- of the life record of John 11. 
S])encer, the present popular and efticieiit |xjstniaster at Rockville, Parke 
county, and for many years a prominent citizen there, may he beneficial to 
the reader, for it has l)een one of usefulness and honor. 

Mr. Spencer was born in Putnam countv. Indiana, three miles south of 
Rus.seliville. July 22. 1864. He is the son of James and Amanda (Crooks) 
Spencer, both natives of Indiana, the father of I'utnam county and the 



468 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

mother of Parke county. James Spencer was a farmer and stock dealer, and 
he removed to Jackson township, Parke county, about t\\enty-se\en years 
ago and lived there until his death, about 1894, at the age of fifty-fi\-e years, 
his birth having occurred in 1839. The mother passed a\va\- in 1879, when 
the subject was fourteen years old. To James Spencer and wife four chil- 
dren were born, of whom two are now li\'ing, John H., of this sketch, and 
James H., of Indianapolis. The father was married, after the death of the 
subject's mother, to Agnes Cofer, of Jackson townshi]), this county, by w horn 
he had two children, one li\'ing at this writing, Mr. Sedalia \\'()I\erton, of 
Lena, Indiana. 

John H. Spencer was reared to manhood on the home farm in Putnam 
county, where he assisted with the general work and recei\ed his primary 
education in the common schools of his native community. He remained 
under his parental roof until he was fourteen years old. or until his mother 
died, after which he worked out on neighboring farms in summer, attending 
school in Russell township, his nati\e county, in the Axinter time. Later he 
attended the normal school at Ladoga, Indiana, for two terms, then entered 
the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute, where he remained three 
terms. At intervals while attending the above named institutions he taught 
school in the winter months, for two years in Putnam county, later con- 
tinuing this line of endeavor for a period of fourteen \ears in Greene town- 
ship, Parke county, thus teaching sixteen consecutive years, the last nine 
years at Guion. Parke county. His long retention at that place is certainly 
evidence enough of his ability and general satisfaction as a teacher: indeed. 
he ranked with the foremost educators in this and adjoining counties and was 
ever in the front rank of his profession his services being in great demand 
and he gave eminent satisfaction both to pupil and patron. ha\ing remained 
a profound student himself and keeping well alireast of the times in all that 
pertained to his line of endeavor. He ever manifested an abiding interest in 
public affairs, and he was elected trustee of Greene township, this countv. in 
1900, which office he filled to the satisfaction of his constituents until his 
resignation, in February, 1903, when he was appointed deput\- countv auai- 
tor, where he served three years, or up to March i. 1906, when he resigned, 
much against the wishes of many of his friends who had noted his superior 
ability in this office, to become postmaster at Rockville, the duties of which 
he has since discharged in a manner that reflects much credit upon himself 
and to the satisfaction of the people and the department at Washington. 

Mr. Spencer is loyal to the tenets of the Rejniblican partv and in 1904 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COL'NTIES. INDIANA. 469 

he was made chairman ul the Repuhlican central cnniniittee and did ninch 
that year for the success of tiic party. 

In September. 1887, Mr. Spencer was married to Mary K. Smiley, 
daughter of John S. and Isabelie ( Dunn) Smilex', a highly respected family 
of Greene township, Parke county, Indiana. This family is of Irish ancestry. 
Mrs. Spencer's grandfather Dunn died while crossing the ocean and was 
buried at sea. One daughter, Jessie A., died when seven years of age, she 
having been the onlv issue to the marriage of the subject and wife. 

Fraternally, Mr. Spencer is a memlier of the Masons, the Knights of 
Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd 1^'cllows. He and .Mrs. S])encer 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, he being a member of the 
board of stewards of the same. 

Grandfather Spencer was originally a Democrat. lia\ ing \oted for 
Stephen A. Douglas in i860 for President, and. like Douglas, he later l)e- 
came a strong defender of the Union and voted for Lincoln at the next elec- 
tion. Grandfather Crooks was a commissioner of Parke county at one time, 
and the commissioner's record No. i in the auditor's office was written by 
him. 



WILLIAM C. WAIT. 



In a brief sketch of any living citizen it is tlifhcull to do him e.xact and 
impartial justice, not so much, however, for lack of space or words to set 
forth the familiar .-md passing events oi his personal history, as for want 
of the perfect and rounded conception of his whole life, which grows, de- 
velops and ripens, like fruit, to disclose its true and l)est flavor only when 
it is mellowed by time. Daily contact with the man so familiarizes us with 
his many virtues that we ordinarily overlook them and commonly under- 
estimate their possessor. Nevertheless, while the man pas.ses away, his deeds 
of virtue live on and will in due time bear fruit and do him the justice which 
our ])en fails to record. There are. however, a lunnber of elements in the 
life record of William C. Wait, the jnesent able ;md popular county attor- 
ney of Vermillion countv and one of the leading attorneys of the section of 
Indiana of which this volume treats, that even now serve as examples well 
worthy of emulation, and his fellow citizens are not unappreciative of these. 
He is a splendid example of the virile, progressive, self-made man who be- 
lieves in doing well whatever is worth doing at all. .1 man of keen discernment 



470 PARKE .\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and sound judgment, broad minded, public spirited and actuated by honorable 
impulses, and tiierefore he enjoys the confidence and good will of all classes. 

Mr. Wait was born near Danville, Vermillion count}'. Illinois. October 
21, 1876, and he is a son of William C, Sr.. and Sarah M. ( Farris) Wait, 
natives of Illinois. His paternal grandfather, George Wait, was an earlv set- 
tler of Vermillion county, Indiana, and here entered land from the govern- 
ment, near Perrysville. but later moved to Illinois, where the father of the 
subject was born. William C. Wait. Sr.. grew to manhood in his native 
state and there recei\ed a common school education. He devoted his life suc- 
cessfully to agricultural pursuits, and was known as a man of energv. hos- 
pitality and scrupulous honesty. His death occurred in May. 191 2. at the 
advanced age of eighty-one years. He was twice married, tirst. to Catharine 
Foley, later to Margaret Moudy. four children being born of the latter union, 
namely: Kate Rogers; Albert N.. of Highland township. A'ermillion county, 
Indiana; Sherman, and (irant. His third and last wife was Sarah AI. F"arris. 
and four children were also born of this union, named as follows : Mrs. 
Grace Carithers, of Highland township, this count\- ; Ray C. is cashier of the 
Palmer National Bank: George B. is farming: and \\'illiam C, subject of this 
sketch. 

William C Wait. Sr.. was a Democrat, and he belonged to the Masonic 
order, being the oldest member of 01i\'e Branch Lodge, at Danxille. Illinois. 
at the time of his death, having identified himself with that lodge in 185C). 

William C. Wait, the immediate subject of this .sketch, was educated in 
the common .schools, the Dan\ille high school and the preparatorx- school to 
the University of Illinois, In the last named in.stitution he spent two vears as 
a .student in the law department. He then entered the Universitv of Indiana 
at Bloomington. graduating from the law department in 1900. with the degree 
of Bachelor of Laws. He came to Newport in 1904 and has since been suc- 
cessfully engaged in the practice of his profession and has built up a large and 
lucrative clientele, taking rank among the leaders of the local bar. He is 
known as a careful, painstaking, conscientious advocate who alwavs goes into 
court thoroughly prepared, and as a speaker he is logical, earnest, interesting 
and not infrequently truly elocpient. An idea of his high standing as a law- 
yer .and trustworthy public servant may be gained from the fact that Governor 
Thomas R. Marshall appointed him judge for the forty-se\enth judicial cir- 
cuit, to fill the vacanc}- caused by the death of Hon. Charles W. Ward, in 
September, 1910, and the able and unbiased manner in which he has dis- 
charged the duties of this important position has proven the wisdom of his 



PARKE AND NKKMII.I.ION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 47 1 

selection. He is at tliis writing county attorney and is giving eminent satis- 
faction to all concerned, irrespectixe of party alignment. I'olitically. lie is an 
ardent Democrat and is a local leader, always active in the ranks. I'^rater- 
nally. he is a menilier of the Masonic order. Unity Lodge No. 344. at Perrys- 
ville, Indiana; also belongs to Riverside Lodge No. 34_>. Knights of I'ythias, 
and the Modern Woodmen of America, the two latter at Newport. He is 
secretary of the Collett Home board and is one of the managers of that in- 
stitution. 

Mr. Wait was married on Seplember 14. 1904. to Nellie M. Ixaboinn. 
daughter of William and Dorothy (Carithers) Rabourn. a well known and 
highly respected family of Williamsport. Indiana. Mrs. Wait is well edu- 
cated and is a ladv of nianv estimable attrilnites. 



GEORGE B. STUTHARD. 

The reputation George 15. Stuthard bears as an engineer is second to 
none in the Wabasli mining district and lie has for vears licen well know 11 m 
Vermillion county, being in charge at [present of the sjjlentlid e(|ui])meiU at 
the Universal mine No. 5, Clinton township, which he manages in a masterly 
manner, for he had made this line of endeavor his special care, keeping well 
abreast of the times in all that pertains lo it. 

Mr. Stuthard was born in Nevins township, Vigo county. Indiana. Octo- 
ber II, 1862. He is a son of David and .\nn ( McGrannahan ) Stuthard. the 
father having Ijeen born near Rockville. i'arke count\ . llii- state, and the 
mother was born in \\go cnimtv. Indiana, on the nld .Mc( iiaunahan home- 
stead. David Stuthard grew up in his natixe communitv and early in life took 
up farming, which he continued to follow successfully until his death, in 
1897. at the age of sixty-eight years. His father. Richard Stuthard. was one 
of the earlv settlers in Parke county. Seven children were born to Da\ id 
Stuthard and wife, namely: Emma. James, George, Rachael. Mary. Henry 
and George 11., of this sketch : there were two half brothers. William Stuthard 
and Charles White. 

George B. Stuthard grew to manhood on his father's farm and tliere as- 
sisted with the general work in the summer time, and during the winter 
months he attended the neighboring schools. On December 4. 1888. he mar- 
ried Cora Cress, daughter of \\'^illiam and Mar\- ("Webster) Cress, which 
family were residents of Vigo countv, this state. Five children have been 



472 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

bom to Mr. and ]ilrs. Stuthard. namely : A'ersa. ]\Incie. Ethel. Clyde and 
Thelma, all at home. 

Mr. Stuthard has Ijeen an engineer for thirty years, also served as master 
mechanic, together with engineering, for the Bunsen or Universal mine No. 5 
in Clinton township, which is one of the finest mines west of the Ohio river, 
and one of the best equipped plants in Indiana or in the middle West. It is 
one hundred and forty-si.\ feet deep, all concrete, there being concrete arches. 
It is eciuip])ed to handle two thousand tons daily, and the coal is of a high 
grade quality. The subject is responsible for the hoisting ajiparatus and other 
accessories. 

i\[r. Stuthard in his fraternal relations lielongs to the Free and .\c- 
cepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both in Illinois. 
His religious views are in harmony with the creed of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church. Interested in local public affairs, Mr. Stuthard assisted in the in- 
corporation of the town of \\'est\ ille. Illinois. 



JOHN O. STARK. 

Among the young men who have made their wa\- to the front in the cit\- 
of Clinton is the present popular young postmaster. John O. Stark, whose 
administration of affairs in this capacity has gained for him general com- 
mendation and strong support. He is a man who early took an interest in 
matters relating to the common good, and who can be counted on for aid in 
everv enterprise which promises the betterment of conditions in his citv and 
countv. His practical attention to the business which has fallen to his care 
has rendered him an efificient servant of the government and the public, and to 
entitle him always to high esteem among the people of his communitv it is 
only necessary that he shall continue in the ways and methods which he is now 
following. 

John O. Stark is the son of Mortimer and Josephine (Chambers) Stark, 
and was born in Jackboro, Texas, on July 29, 1884. He attended the com- 
mon schools of Indiana and conijileted his education b\- graduating from 
high school. He received the appointment of postmaster from President 
Taft, through the influence of Senator All-)ert J. Beveridge, on March 14. 
1910. 

Mr. Stark was married on December i. 1911, to Ruth Owen. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Methodist Episcopal church. 



PARKE AND XEKMII.LION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 473 

In politics he is a Republican. He has many friends in Ciintdn and its vicin- 
ity, and though, since the years of his life are short, the record of his achieve- 
ments is necessarily somewhat brief, yet his vears have been well filled with 
substantial work and accomplishments. 



S. F. MAX PUETT. 



The gentleman wiiose name initiates this review is eminentK' deser\ ing 
of mention in a compilation as is the nature of this one, owing to the fact 
that he ranks among the leaders of the younger members of the bar of Parke 
and Vermillion counties, becau.se of his unswerving integrity and his pa.st 
record which has lieen fruitful of good results, and among his acquaintances 
he has ever held an honoraljle position. 

S. F. Ala.x Puett was born on August 3. 1879, in Rockville, Parke 
county, Indiana, the son of Samuel D. Puett. one of the notalile figures of 
his day and generation in this section of Indiana, a complete sketch of whom 
appears on other pages of this work. 

The subject of this review grew to manhood in his native town and there 
received his primary education, later attending the Western Military .Acad- 
emy at Upper Alton, Illinois, later the \'irginia Military .\cademy at Lex- 
ington, Virginia, after which he took a course at Wabash College. Crawfords- 
ville, Indiana. Early in life he determined upon a legal career and with this 
end in \iew he entered his father's office in 1900 and studied law. Making 
rapid progress, he was admitted to the bar in 1901. and at once began practice 
in Rockville, where he has remained to the present time, being successful 
from the start. He is regarded as a painstaking and careful attorney, a 
trusted ad\'ocate and a young man to whom the future must needs hold much 
of honor and success. However, his regular practice at the bar is curtailed 
owing to the fact that lie is compelled to devote a great deal of his attention 
to his large landed interests, he and his mother being owners of nineteen 
hundred acres of valuable, productive and hi.ghly im])ro\ed land, all in Parke 
county. 

Mr. Puett was married on January i, iipi. to Madge Ott. daughter of 
David B. Ott, one of the i)rominent pioneers of this county, the Ott family 
having been well known and highly respected here from the early settlement 
of the county to the present time, and here Mrs. Pnett grew to womanhood 
and received her educational training. She is a lady of many estimable traits 



474 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and has ahvays been popular in the best social circles. This union has been 
blessed b\' the liirth of two children, namely: Ott Maxwell Puett. born 
August 27, 190J, and Samuel D. Puett, born January 15, 191 1. 

Fraternally, Mr. Puett is a thirty-second-degree Mason, a member of 
the P)hie Lodge at Rockville. the Scottish Rite at Indiana])olis, and the Ancient 
Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Terre Haute. He is one of 
the prominent Masons of western Indiana and it would seem that he en- 
deavors to carry the sublime precepts of Masonry into his everyday life. He 
is also a member of Lodge No. 483, Benevolent and Protective Order of 
Elks, at Crawfordsx'ille. Politically, he is a Democrat and is influential and 
active in party afifairs. He and Mrs. Puett are members of the Presbvterian 
church. 



SAMUEL DUNCAN PUETT. 

One of the distinguished nien of a past generation in Parke county and 
one of the ablest lawyers in this section of Indiana was the late Samuel Dun- 
can Puett. Brilliant, energetic, pious, just, humane, temperate and sincere; 
unifonn, dignified and commanding, yet kind and unostentatious, his example 
was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting, 
and his memory will long be revered in the hearts of the vast circle of friends 
who still press onward and upward along the great highwa\' men call life, 
beside which, weary with the burden, this noble character fell and perished. 
but whose influence did not cease with the going out of the vital spark. 

Mr. Puett was born March 22, 1846, near Roclnille. this county. He 
was the fourth son of Johnson and Palsey (Noel) Puett. His father and 
mother were children when their parents came from North Carolina to In- 
diana. Not long afterwards they located in Parke county, near Rockville. 
From the earliest histor\- of that tow n until thirty years had passed these two 
families were most conspicuous in the afifairs of the conimunit}'. material, 
political, civic and moral; in fact, the\- did as much if not more than an\- 
others of that period for the general upbuilding and progress of the county. 

It was the earnest desire of his parents that this son. Samuel D. Puett, 
should receive a college education. In fulfillment of their wishes he worked 
his way through school and studiously devoted himself to the gratification of 
the ambition of his parents. He entered Asbury (now De Pauw) LTnixersitv. 
at Greencastle, Indiana, completing the course in 1870. ha\ing made an ex- 
cellent record for scholarship. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 475 

On May 13, 1873, Mr. Puett was united in marriage to Mamie I'.. Ma.x- 
well, the (laughter of Judge Samuel E. Maxwell, and this union was graced 
by the birth of one son, S. !■". Ma.x Puett, a well known voung lawyer and 
business man of Rockville, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. 
Mrs. Puett survives. 

Mr. Puett stutlied law under Judge Maxwell and subse<|uentl\- became 
his partner. The death of the Judge occurred in 1877, and for some years 
Mr. Puett continued the practice alone, rapidly advancing to the front rank 
of lawyers in western Indiana, judge lliram b". Hadley came to Rockville 
in 1882 and formed a jjartnership with Mr. Puett. Mr. TTadlev fmally went 
to the state of Washington, and .Mbert M. Adams and J. M. Johns were then 
associated with Mr. Puett. The latter formed a partnershi]) in i<S(;3 with 
John S. McFaddin, wliicii continued until the death of the subject of this 
memoir. 

In almost all of the important cases tried in this count\' during his time, 
Mr. Puett's services were retained. His untiring industry and great energy, 
his continuous success as an advocate and his unscru|>ulous honest v in deal- 
ing with his clients and all men, brought to him a Iucrati\'e practice and a large 
and faithful clientage. Ready in resources, fruitful in expedients, of long 
and varied experience, quick to detect the weak points of his adversary and to 
bring forward the strong parts of his own case, the great number of important 
cases he won attests to the great success he so well deserved. He was ever a 
profound student of all that pertained to the law. to ex'ery |)hase of jurispru- 
dence and to the latest statutes of his state. 'so that he always went into court 
fullv i)i'e])are(l .ind abl\- and roii^cienlioti^ly looked after his clients' interests. 
As a pleader at the bar he was logical, forceful. con\ incing and not infre- 
quently truly eloquent. 

Samuel D. Puett was ne\er a candidate for office on his own account. 
In 1876 he was placed on the Democratic electoral ticket and cast his vote for 
Samuel |. Tilden for President. In all civic alifairs he took an active interest. 
He was re])eatedlv elected to the school board. In social life he was always 
a central figure. Fraternallx . he was a Ma.son, belonging to the Scottish 
Rite and the .\ncient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also 
helfl membership w ith the Benexolent and Protective Order of Elks and the 
Knights of Pvthias. He was a genial companion at all times ; a ]>leasant 
word, a kindly greeting, something of jest or repartee, always characterized 
his meeting with friends and acquaintances. From early life he was a mem- 
Inr of the Methodist b'pi.scopal chin-ch. He regularly attended divine ser- 



476 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

vice, was a trustee of the local church organization and was a teacher in the 
Sunday school many years. He was interested in all things having as their 
object the betterment and upbuilding of Rock\ ille and Parke county, and in 
the business world he was a powerful factor, a man true to his con\'ictions and 
to his ideas of right, and firm in his opinions. He rose equal to every occa- 
sion. Splendid in his physical manhood, broad minded, social, genial, charit- 
able, whole-souled and kind-hearted, his friends were legion — friends which 
throughout all his life he lilerallv "grappled to him with hooks of steel." 

Mr. Puett practiced both in the supreme and appellate courts, and men 
in those bodies as well as in minor courts were a unit in their agreement that 
he was a man of remarkable powers. His mind was eminently practical and 
he possessed the \aluable facultv of common sense in an unusual degree. His 
large experience in the management of his own extensive property, was ex- 
ceedingly \'aluable td him in his profession. He had fine business capacitv. 
From his youth he had large plans. One of the marked traits of his charac- 
ter was his tremendous energ\-. It mo\ed him like an engine. Every fibre 
of his mental and pliysical lieing seemed surcharged with this quality of in- 
tense and compelling energy. He was cast in a large mould, a man of com- 
manding personality, and he attracted attention in any crowd. He was most 
successful in a business way, becoming one of the men of wealth of his count\-, 
leaving landed interests and an estate amounting to a handsome fortune to 
his widow and son. 

The death of Samuel D. Pueti occurred suddenly, of apoplexy, on Sun- 
day evening, May 5, 1907, and his sudden demise was a severe shock to his 
thousands of friends, and a distinct loss to Parke countv. 



HON. JAMES T. JOHNSTON. 

Upon the roll of representative citizens and prominent and influential 
public men of Parke county during a past generation consistently appears the 
name of the late James T. Johnston. He was a resident of this locality for 
many years, (Uuing which time he gradualh' won his wa\' into the affections 
of the people, for he possessed those sterling qualities of character which 
commend themselves to persons of intelligence and the highest morality, so 
it is no cause for wonder that he achieved so high a position in the general 
estimation of all who came in touch with him. As a business man, a public 
servant and a soldier his record is well worth\- of careful consideration and 



PARKE AND VF.UM 1 [.LION COUXTIKS, INDIANA. 477 

eniiilation In- the youth nf iht- laiul wlmse I'nrtuiu-s are yet matters fur future 
years to determine. 

j\Ir. Johnston was Ixjrn in I'ulnam county. Indiana, januaiy kj. i^^^J- 
He was the oldest child of Anderson and Louise Johnston, and he showed in 
his large physical Iniild and exceptional mental capacity the sturdy stock of 
his parentage. He grew to manhood on a farm in his native county and later 
in life during his professional and official career it was well known that he 
was a man of sound judgment and keen discernment. als(i the ])osses.sor of 
unusual practical knowledge of agricultural affairs. 1 le was educated in the 
common schools of Putnam county, heing at one time a pu])il of his long-lime 
law partner and frieml. the late Thomas .\'. Rice, lie was married h'ehruary 
14, 1866, to Martha Morrison, who died in iSjj. lea\ ing one child. .Mrs. 
Mattie Cooper, of Greencastle, Indiana. On Xovemher 6. 1873. he was 
united in marriage to Lucy Daly, in Rockxille. with whom he li\ed h;ip])ily 
until his death, she still sur\iving. making her home in Rockville. where she 
has a host of friends who know her as a woman of fine intellectual attain- 
ments and gracious personality. 

James T. Johnston commenced the sluily of law in 1861 in Greencastle, 
Indiana, in the office of \\'illiamson &• Daggy. and he continued perusing^ 
Blackstone and Kent there until in July. i86_\ that solemn year of gloom, 
when he enlisted as a private in (."om])anv C Sixth Indiana Ca\alry, in which 
he served until September. 1863. when he was transferred to Companv .\. 
Eighth Tennessee Cavalry, and commissioned second lieutenant, in which 
capacity he served until Januarv. i8f)4. when he resigned on accoinit of dis- 
abilitv". hut later he ser\ed as commissarv sergeant of the One Hundred and 
Thirty-third Indiana \'olunteer Infantry. He was commissioned lieutenant 
and assistant (iuarlerina.ster of the One Hundred and I'orty-ninth Indiana 
\'olunteer Infantry, and mustered out with that regiment in September. i8f)5. 
His militarv record is one of faithful service from Richmond. Kcntuckv. in 
1862, to Decatur, Alabama, in 1863. It is a record without a blemish, in the 
des])erate and disastrous battle of Richmond, in the gloomy mid-winter cam- 
paign of suffering among the bleak mountains of eastern Tennessee in 18(13. 
in battle and skirmish, in honorable wounds borne with fortitude and w itiiout 
vanitv. It is a record which his widow and daughter can treasure with silent 
pride aiul to which his countrymen can point with proud satisfaction. In 
appreciation of his record as a soldier for the I'nion his comrades of the 
Grand Armv of the Republic in 1893 elected him commander of that organi- 
zation for the de])artment of Indiana, which he filled w ith unusual ability, to 
the eminent satis factiofi of all concerned. 



4/8 PARKE AND NERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Mr. John.ston was a Mason and one would have judged from his upright 
daily life that he endeavored to carry tlie sublime precepts of this time-hon- 
ored fraternity into his everv relatimi with his fellow men. 

In 1866 'Sly. Johnston removed to Rockville, Parke countw and became 
as thoroughly identified with the people of this localit\' as "if to the manor 
born." In the last mentioned year, having studied law and been admitted 
to the bar, he was elected prosecuting attorney, which office he filled for two 
years, in iShcS he was elected representative to the stale Legislature from 
Parke county and in 1874 was elected to the state Senate from the counties of 
Parke and \^ermillion, serving four rears. f-Je was elected to the forty- 
ninth Congress, in which he made such a l)rilliant record that he was re-elected 
and served with equal credit in the fiftieth Congress, as a Republican, his 
popularity in his home district being shown by the fact that he was elected 
by a large plurality, receiving twentv thousand nine hundred and eighteen 
votes against nineteen thousand eight hundred and sixteen votes cast for 
Judge John E. Lamb. Democrat. During his term as congressman he served 
with credit on a numljer of important committees and' rendered valual>le and 
distinguished service, winning the heartv commendation of bis constituents; 
in fact, all concerned, irres])ecti\e of party alignment, for he made his in- 
fluence felt for the general good of his home district in many wa\s. Mean- 
while he was unremitting in his study and ])ractice of the law, Inhlding up a 
large clientage and taking a front rank at the local bar: in fact, he had few- 
peers in the state, being for man_\- _\-ears a conspicuous ])ractitioner in state and 
federal courts. His knowledge of law was comprehensi\'e and profound, and, 
e\'er a student, he ke])t well abreast of the times in all that pertained to his 
profession, and was regarded a careful, safe and honorable ad\-ocate and a 
man who wielded a powerful influence with a jury. As a public speaker he 
was earnest, forceful, convincing and truly elocpient, holding his audience 
as if spellbound, for the natural gifts of an orator were his. A>; a citizen he 
was public sjjirited and always led in movements looking to the liettertnent 
of his community in any w a}'. Sociallv, be was an old- fashioned neighbor, 
friendly, hosjiitable and charitable. He was no recluse. He felt the great 
immensity of life, was a lover of nature and loved men more than books, al- 
though alwa\s a great .student, his ample and carefullv selected librarv being 
his clo.sest companion. He loved to call men b) their plain names or better 
by some familiar sobri(|uet. He delighted in meeting his friends on the street, 
in shopi)ing ])laces and along the country roads and engage them in .short. 
familiar talks. Some of his friendships seemed singular, almost picturescpie. 
by reason of the persons and the tenacit\ with which his interest and friend- 



PAKKK AiNU \ ICRMII.I.ION COLXIIKS, INDIANA. 479 

ship folK)\\c-(l thciii throujili e\il ;is well as good rt'|)nvl, and these in return 
never forgot liini. 

He was tasliiuned on a large pattern. Nature was jjrodigal when she 
built James T. Johnston. He fitted into big occasions, and he quite naturally 
and with ease took his ])lace with prominent men naliuualK. and without 
apolog}-. LUit there was another trait in his character as marked as any — his 
tender heartedness. Serious sickness in his faniil\- unmanned him and mis- 
fortune to his friends greatly disturbed him. He was elemental, and his fine 
traits of character, his commendable record as a soldier, his useful pubhc 
career, his worthy characteristics as a private citizen, neighbor, friend, hus- 
band and father, so impressed his personality upon all that his memory will 
linger w ith the w ide circle of friends left to deplore his loss for man\- years to 
come. 

On July 15. 1909, Mr. Johnston was summoned to his eternal rest, at 
his beautiful Rockville home, at the age of sixty-five years and six months, 
his passing away being regarded as a distinct loss to the county and state. 



WILLI.AM M. TllOM.SOX. 

The life record of William M. Thomson, of Rockxille, is too well known 
to the people of Parke and X'ermillinn counties to need any extended eulogy 
here, for his career speaks for itself. He was born in \\'a\eland. Montgom- 
er)- county, Indiana, Xo\ember 27, 1833, and is the son of John S. and Mary 
(Wilson) Th<imson, both natixes of the state of Ohio, the father born in the 
city of Springfield and the mother in Hamilton connl\. |ohn S. Tiiomson 
grew to manhood in his natixe state, and removed to Crawfordsville, Indiana, 
in January. 1834. He had received a high education for those days and was 
an educator of note in this part of the countrx. lie came to Indiana as pro- 
fessor of Latin .md mathematics in \\'a])ash College, and he s])ent the rest of 
his life in Crawfordsville. dying there in 1843. His widow survived many 
years, dxing in Rockville. at the advanced age of ninety years, having lieen 
called to her rest only a few years ago. 

I'"ive children were born to John .'^. Thomson and wife. ;dl now deceased 
but William M., of this review. 

Mr. Thomson, of this sketch, received a common school education. He 
came to Rockville on November 7, 1847, with his mother and P. E. Harris, 
who was a merchant here for many years. In 1849 Mr. Thomson took a 



480 PARKE .\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

position in the store of Mr. Harris. Ten years later he went to Pike's Peak, 
Colorado, and remained in the West about a year. Returning to Rock\ille, 
he went into the dry goods business under the firm name of Nichols. Thom- 
son & Company. They also operated a grist-mill, which continued until 
1864, when this firm erected the woolen mills. Mr. Thomson continued in 
business under the firm name of Thompson. ]\IcEwen & Bryant, general mer- 
chants, until 1884. During the last mentioned year the firm went out of 
business, and Mr. Thomson bought his present grocery store from Firman 
Allen and has remained on the i)resent site evev since. He is the oldest busi- 
ness man in Rockville. both in }-ears and in point of business. 

Mr. Thomson was married on June 11, 1866, to Emily J. Bryant, daugh- 
ter of Judge W. T. Bryant and Maria Bryant. Judge Bryant was judge of 
his judicial district for many years and afterwards was chief justice of Ore- 
gon Territory, ha^•ing been appointed by President James K. Polk. Mrs. 
Thompson was born in Rock\-ille, Parke county, in the house in which she is 
now living, and here they have lived since their marriage. They have the 
following children : William B., who is associated with his father in the 
store; Mary P. is the wife of A. H. Stark, president of the Parke State Bank 
at Rockville ; Jennie P.,- wife of Howard Maxwell, a leading attorney of 
Rockville. 

Politically, Mr. Thomson is a Republican. ha\ing l:)een loyal to its prin- 
ci])les from the time of its organization in 1856 to the ])resent. 



ISAAC R. STROUSE. 

There is no nobler profession in all the world than that of journalism, 
if it be honest and if it be free. The privilege to tell the truth, and the privi- 
lege to be kind ; the high and unquestioned right to be just, and the joy of 
championing all good causes and all right things — in these elements jour- 
nalism has no superior and scarcely an equal among the vocations which 
belong to man. The modern country newspaper presents to the mind most 
vividly the vast strides that have been made in mechanics, in political morals, 
in social relations, in religious tenets, — in fact, along the entire gamut of 
human endeavor. It marks with peculiar stamii the ci\ilization nf the present 
day. 

.\ journalist of more than local renown is Isaac R. Strouse. editor of 
the Rockville Tribune, a country newspaper of no ignoble type. IMr. Strouse. 



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ISAAC R. STROUSE. 



TARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. l.\l)L\.NA. 48 1 

who is a tine type of a citizen and a man of state-w ide reputation, is a native 
of Rockville, Indiana, born on December 12, 1859, and is the son of Samuel 
and Mary Frances (^ Baker; Strouse, the father a native ol Ba\aria, Ger- 
many, and the mother of Shelbyville, Kentucky. 

Samuel Strouse came to Rockville in 1843 and engaged in the live 
stock and livery business, remaining here until his death, which occurred in 
1898. His wife had died in 1878. They were the parents of seven children, 
four of whom are now living, the other three being David Strouse, Mrs. 
Ared F. White and Mrs. E. A. Fuett, the latter of Long Beach, California. 

Isaac R. Strouse received a pubhc school education in Rockville until 
sixteen years of age, Avhen he left school and entered the office of the indiuna 
Patriot to learn the '"art preser\ative." Joseph B. Cheadle soon afterwards 
bought this paper and changed its name to the Rockville Tribune. Mr. Strouse 
set the first type and printed the first edition of the new paper on an old hand 
press, and, with the exception of one year, when he was employed as a rail- 
road fireman, he has been connected with the Tribune ever since. In 1882 
he purchased of John H. Beadle a half interest in the paper, prior to which 
time he had for two years ser\cd the ])a])er as local editor and printer. In 
1889 Mr. .Strouse purchased his partner's interest in the plant and since has 
been in full control. Under jVIr. Beadle's management the paper had been 
an independent journal, but when Mr. Strouse secured the paper he made it 
Democratic, and few papers in Indiana can point to so consistent an editorial 
record as that of the Tribune. Since that day it has been a steadfast advo- 
cate of the undying principles of Democracy as formulated by Thomas Jef- 
ferson and enunciated by William Jennings Bryan. It has consistently ad- 
vocated free trade since 1882 and it claims that it has lived to see many of 
its early predictions come true, such as the formation of great industrial 
combinations which, it predicted, would be the inevitable outgrowth of the 
protective tariff. The Tribune is especially vigilant in its championship of 
progressive Democracy as ad\'ocated by Mr. Bryan, to whose political tenets 
it has, in season and out of season, given uncompromising allegiance and un- 
swerving devotion. Its discussion of all issues upon which men and parties 
divide has been such as to make it a potent factor in the local body politic, 
and few newspapers in western Indiana are more often quoted. But. faithful 
and discriminating as may have been its characterization of public virtues and 
public discrepancies, fearless as may have been its presentations of its politi- 
cal creed, perhaps its greatest claim to local renown is as a local newspaper. 
(31) 



482 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

for there are no better in the Wabash country. For over a quarter of a cen- 
tur)' the Tribune has made its weekly visits into hundreds of the best homes 
of Parke county. Manifold ha\e been its pulse throbs of passing events 
during these years. It has rejoiced with the people in their hours of victory 
and consoled with them in their hours of sorrow. To ser\e such a clientele 
is no slight responsibility, for even the humble and unpretending newspaper 
that goes regularly into the home contributes, imperceptibly perhaps, but 
none the less surely, to the intellectual growth of all the people therein. 

Isaac R. Strouse was married on December 22, 1881, to Juliet \"irginia 
Humphreys, a nati\e of Rock\ille and a daughter of William and Susan 
Alarcia (King) Humphreys, the latter a woman of rare talent and education, 
gifted with a finely developed mind and a taste for the finer and better 
things in literature and art. Mrs. Strouse doubtless inherited frdm her gifted 
mother man of these traits, fo'r she is herself a woman of decided literary 
accomplishments, and enjoying a national re])utation. F"or over twentv vears 
she has regularlv conducted a de])artment in the Tribune. For over ten vears 
she has conducted a department in the ludiiinapolix Xcws under the heading 
of "The Cuunlrx' C'ontriljutnr," and fnr oxer six years she has Jiad a special 
department in the Ladies' Huuie Journal under the caption of "Ideas of a 
Plain Comitry ^^'oman." She has also contril)uted short stories and sjiecial 
articles to the magazine and periodical jiress of the country. "The Ideas of a 
Plain Cmmtry \\'oman" was published in linok form by Doulileday. Page & 
Companv and was reprinted in Fngland. Mrs. Strouse's writings are strik- 
inglv original, possess a wholesome charm and breathe a homespun jihilosophy 
that makes them an interesting and distincti\e feature of any publication in 
whicli they appear. 

To the home of ^Ir. and ^'Irs. Strouse have been liorn t\\'n children, 
namely : \farcia Frances, the wife of Claude Ott. of Rockville, and Sarah 
Katharine, the deceased wife of Harold A. Henderson, of Rockville. 

In 1893 Mr. Strouse was appointed by Governor Matthews a trustee of 
the Indiana Institute for the Blind, in which position he served two years. 
In t8q8 Governor Mount appointed him a major in the Indiana National 
Guard, but he declined the appointment. In 1907 Governor Hanly appointed 
him a member of the commission to select and purchase a site and erect the 
buildings for the Indiana Tuberculosis Hospital. Mr. Strouse was secretary 
of the commission, which spent one hundred and sixty thousand dollars for 
the purpose designated. It is a noteworthy fact that ]\Tr. Strouse's accounts 



PARKE AND VER.MIT.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 483 

tallied to a cent with those of the auditor of state. It was partly through his 
efforts, in co-operation witli the citizens of Rockville, that the liospital was 
located at that place. On the completion of the hospital Governor Marshall 
appointed ^Jr. Strouse a nieniher of the board of three trustees to manage 
the same, in which capacity he is now ably serving the state. 

It is needless to say that Mr. Strouse is a progressive and influential 
citizen of Rock\ ille, a community which has long been noted for the high 
order of its citizenship. He is interested in every movement that has for its 
object the betterment of the civic and moral forces of the community and no 
citizen stands higher in the estimation of those wlio know the worth of a man. 



ALLAN T. BROCKW W. 

The subject of this sketch is not the e.xam]jlc of a man whom the in- 
scrutable caprice of fortune or fate has suddenl\- ])laced in an important and 
successful position in the business world, but lie has attained to the same 
through long years of persistent toil and unflagging endeavor, for he realized 
early in his career that success comes tf) tiie deserving, and that to be deserv- 
ing one must be industrious and persistent, honond^le and straightforward: so 
he forged ahead, surmounting ob.stacles that woidd have daunted and di- 
verted the course of less courageous spirits. 

.Mian T. Brockway, the present able and ])opular cashier of the Rock- 
ville National Bank, Rockville, Parke county, was liorn in Greencastle, In- 
diana, I>ecember 30, 1872, and is a son of .\lva and Sarah K. (McCarty) 
Brockway. The father was a native of Erie. Pennsylvania, and he came to 
Greencastle, Indiana, about 1858 and there began the manufacture of wooden 
pumps, in which he met with much success and \\ hich business he finally sold 
to Cale Brothers. The elder Brockway ])ecame one of the leading business 
men of Greencastle and there he spent the re.st of his life, dying in Septem- 
ber, 1908. The mother of the subject still lives in Greenca.stlc. Two children 
were born to these parents, Allan T., of this review, and F.dwin, who lives in 
Greencastle. 

Allan T. Brockwav grew to manhood in r'.rcencastle and there he re- 
ceived a good common school education, later spending three years in De 
Pauw University, at tliat place. He I>egan life for himself by accei)ting a posi- 
tion in the' Central National I'.ank of Greencastle. where he remained five 



484 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

years, giving eminent satisfaction and mastering the basic principles of the 
banking business. He came to Rockville in April, 1899, to accept a position 
as assistant cashier of the Rock\ille National Bank, and in 1908 he became 
cashier, which position he is still holding to the eminent satisfaction of the 
stockholders and patrons of the liank, being well posted on e\ery phase of 
modern banking methods, scrupulously honest and courteous to all patrons. 

Mr. Brockway was married on June 22. 1899, to Frank M. McCune, 
daughter of Samuel M. and Evaline K. (Kirkpatrick) INIcCune, her father 
having at one time been president of the Rockville National Bank, and for 
many ^•ears a prominent citizen there. 

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brockway. namely : Eva- 
line is twelve years of age ; Louise is ten years old ; Frances has passed her 
seventh birthday ; and Marian is an infant. 

Fraternally, Mr. Brockway is a member of the Knights of Pythias and 
the Masonic order and, religiously, he and his wife belong to the Presbyterian 
church. Politically, he is a Republican. He was a member of the local school 
board for a period of five years, and he takes a deep interest in the afifairs of 
his town and county generally. 



RAYMOND E. SWOPE. M. D. 

Concentration of purpose and persistently applied energy rarely fail of 
success in the accomplishment of any task, however great, and in tracing the 
career of Dr. Raymond E. Swope, one of the best known of the younger phy- 
sicians of Parke and Vermillion counties, it is plainly seen that these things 
have been the secrets of his rise to a position of prominence and respectability. 
Moreover, he possesses genuine love for his work and regards it as a pri\ilege 
to carry comfort and aid to the sick and suffering. 

Dr. Swope was born in Stilesville. Hendricks county, Indiana. November 
25, 1872. His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth A. (Brown) Swope, the 
father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Indiana. They are both now 
deceased. Samuel Swope devoted his life to the undertaking business. He 
and his wife became the parents of four children, all still li^•ing. 

Dr. Swope received a common school education at Stilesville, also at- 
tended the high school at Crawfordsville, Indiana. He then for a time 
worked at the undertaking business with his father. In the fall of 1896 he 
entered Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, where he made an excellent 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 485 

record for scliolarsliip. and lie was graduated frdiii tliat instilulion with the 
class of 1900, having been a member of the first class to graduate under the 
four-year ruling. FIc began the practice of his profession in Putnam county, 
but remained there only a short time, coming to Rockvillc, I'arke county, in 
April. 1907, and here he has since remained and has built up a very satisfac- 
tory and rapidly growing ])ractice, his past success auguring much promise 
for the future. 

Dr. Swope was married on June 30, 1909, to Elizabeth A. Ott, of Rock- 
ville, a daughter of Baxter Ott, one of the excellent old families of this place. 

Fraternally, Dr. Swope belongs to the Masonic order and the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically, he is a Repul>lican. and he and his 
wife belong to the Presbyterian church. He holds membership in the Parke 
County Medical Societ\- and the State Medical Association. He is secretary 
of the local pension board, of the Ignited States board of examining surgeons 
and in this capacity is giving eminent satisfaction. He is also first lieutenant 
in Battery C, Indiana National Guard, at Rockville. He takes a deep interest 
in the affairs of his town and county and is a young man of fine cliaracter. 



PETER PENCE. 



It will ine\'ital)ly l)e found, if an examination lie made into the records of 
self-made men, that untiring industry forms the basis of their success. It is 
true that many other elements enter in. such as fortitude, i)erse\erance. keen 
discernment and honesty of purpose which enable one to recognize business 
opportunities; but the foundation of all worthy achie\ement is earnest, per- 
sistent labor. The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this article 
recognized these facts early in life and did not seek to gain any short or 
magical method to the goal of prosperity. On the contrary he began to work 
earnestly and diligentlv in order to advance himself along laudable lines and 
from an humble beginning he became one of the leading agriculturists and 
stock raisers in Parke county. Mr. Pence is one of the venerable and highly 
esteemed citizens of this locality, now living in quiet retirement at his cozy 
home in Rockville, enjoying the respite due a long and strenuous career. He 
is one of the veterans of what is universally conceded to be the greatest war 
of all history, having served his country most faithfully during her darkest 
hours. 



486 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES^ INDIANA. 

Peter Pence was born in Florida township, Parke county, Indiana, Sep- 
tember 3, 1844, the son of Andrew and Sarah (Bloomhuffj Pence. The father 
was born in Adams county, Ohio, May 27, 1811, and the mother was born in 
Brown county, Ohio, on August 18, 181 1. They grew to maturity in their 
native state and were married there, and about 1840 they came to Parke 
county, Indiana, locating in Florida township, where they became well estab- 
lished through their industry and were well known and highly respected. They 
spent their li\es engaged in general farming. In 1878 they removed to 
Nodaway county, Missouri, where they spent the rest of their lives, the father 
dying at the adxanced age of eighty-seven years, the mother having preceded 
him to the gra\-e five years. They were the parents of twelve children, four 
of whom are now living, namely : William, who resides in Xodaway county, 
Missouri, where John also makes his home; Andrew B. lives in Nowater, 
Oklahoma ; and Peter, of this sketch. 

The Pence family is of Dutch descent. 

Peter Pence grew to manhood on the home farm and there he assisted 
with the general work about the place when of proper age. and he received a 
good practical country school education. About this period the great Civil 
war commenced, and. although but eighteen years of age, he enlisted, in 
1863, in the Eleventh Indiana Cavalry. One Hundred and Twenty-sixth 
Regiment, and served two years or until the close of the war. seeing consid- 
eral^le hard service in a number of important campaigns and battles, including 
the sanguinary engagements at Franklin and Nashville. Tennessee, also many 
skirmishes, in all of which he conducted himself as becomes a gallant Ameri- 
can soldier. 

After receiving an honorable discharge, Mr. Pence returned to his home 
in Parke county and took up farming on his own account in \^'aIlash and 
Florida townships, and later in Adams township. 

Mr. Pence was married on October 22. 1871, to Catherine Flixon, who 
was born in Parke county. Indiana. April 23. 1850, a native of \\'abash town- 
ship, where her people were well known and influential, her jiarents being 
James and Eliza (W'annamauglier ) Flixon, the father a native of Parke 
county. Indiana, born August 31, 1824. and her mother was Ixirn in Ohio, 
April 20, 1825, James Hixon was accidentally killed at Mecca bridge, Sep- 
tember 30, 1892. JNIrs. Eliza Hixon died in Terre Haute, Indiana. Decemlier 
29, 1909, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, eight months and nine 
davs. The Hixon familv is of Dutch extraction on the mother's side, and of 



PARKE AND VERMIF.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 487 

Scotch-Irish descent on the paternal side. Airs. Pence is one of li\e chihlren 
living, live others ha\ing died in childhood. 

After their marriage Air. and Airs. I'ence went tu housekeeping in 
I'lorida township, this count\ , u.m\ they soon ranlced among the leading farm- 
ers of the same, laying hy a coinfortable competency as the years ad- 
vanced. They lived in Wabash township from 1878 to 1903, when they re- 
tired from active life and removed to their commodious home in I^ock\ille. 
where they have since lived, enjoying the fruits of their former years of toil 
and endea\or. but retaining their hue farm in Wabash township. 

One child has blessed llic union of Air. and Airs. I'ence, Ellis i'ence, 
who lives on the home farm in Wabash township, where he is making a ])ro- 
nounced success as a farmer and stock raiser, tie married Aiollic iiardin, 
who was born in Alontgomery count}', Indiana. They have had eight chil- 
dren, seven of whom are now living, namely: iielen, Aladge Alarie. .\!url 
Eliza, Catherine, Aiargaret (deceased), Maynard Iiardin, Alice i.axear, and 
Marie Louise. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pence belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which 
they are liberal supporters. Politically, he is a stanch Reiniblican. hut has 
never sought public honors, though he was trustee of Wabash township for 
two terms, gi\ing eminent satisfaction to all concerned in this capacity. i'"ra- 
ternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias. lie is a man of scrupulous 
honesty, pulilic spirit, hospitable and a pleasant man to know, always plain 
and miassumin"'. 



SAAIUEL THOMAS C ATLIX'. 

Parke county is rich in honored sons. Ixit none is more worthy of his- 
torical record than the late Samuel T. Catlin. a man w ho was content to spend 
his long, useful and honorable life right here at home, and he did much to 
further the material, civic and moral interests of the county and in his day 
and generation no citizen of Parke was better or more favorably known. He 
was a successful man in business affairs, accumulating a large and valuable 
estate through his own efiforts. by his industry, thrift and able management 
and he was a public servant against whose record there never was a shadow 
of suspicion. And now that he has, like a sheaf fully ripened, been gathered 
in by "the reaper whose name is Death."' his influence still survives, making 
better and brighter the lives of those whocame in close contact w ith him. for 



488 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

his life was led along a noble planof endeavor, and he left behind him a record 
of which his family and friends may well be proud and cause his memory to 
long be revered. 

Mr. Catlin was born in Florida township, Parke county, Indiana, June 
25. 1836, and was a son of Hiram and -Mary (Gentle) Catlin, a sterling 
old pioneer family. He was reared on the old home farm, where he continued 
to reside, carrying on general farming and stock raising on an extensive 
scale and in a successful manner until 1886. when he removed to Rockville, 
where he spent the latter vears of his life, his death occurring here on De- 
cember 7, 1908, in his seventy-third year. 

Mr. Catlin was educated in the public schools of his nati\-e community 
and at Bloomingdale Academy. Preparing himself for a teacher, he followed 
that line of endeavor in a most successful manner for several years. Had he 
continued in that \-ocation he doubtless would have become one of our leading 
educators. He, however, liked an outdoor life best and abandoned the school 
room to engage in farming and stock raising near the town of Catlin and in 
due course of time became one of the substantial and successful agriculturists 
of that part of the county. 

Mr. Catlin always took an active and prominent part in public affairs, 
and in 1886 was elected auditor of Parke county, which office he filled in a 
manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfac- 
tion of all concerned for a period of eight years, and he is remembered todav 
as one of the best county officers Parke has ever had. In 1897 he was elected 
president of the Rockville National Bank, which responsible position he held 
until his death, and the large success of this pojnilar institution was due in no 
small measure to his able management, wise counsel and sound judgment. 

Mr. Catlin was married on March 24. 1862, to Elizabeth Harshman, a 
woman of man\- commendable traits and the representati\-e of a fine old 
family. To this union two sons were born, Hiram Weslev Catlin. whose death 
occurred on May 15, 1873, and Thomas H. Catlin, of Dana and Rockville. 

Mr. Catlin was a man of highest probity, an energetic, painstaking busi- 
ness man, a man of the most attractive and entertaining social qualities, a 
great lover of nature, who was fond of youth and who was admired bv voung 
men; a man of vast information, being widely read. He was for manv vears 
a member of the Methodist church, and a most liberal supporter of the same. 
Fraternally, he belonged to Catlin Lodge and Parke Chapter, Free and Ac- 
cepted Masons. In his death Parke county lost one of her foremost citizens, 
one who helped make its best history, and a man whose memory coming gen- 
erations will ever honor. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 489 

C. W. OVERPECK, M. D. 

As a physician Dr. C. W. Overpeck, of Rockville, is known as a man of 
high attainments and practical ability, and as one who has achieved success in 
his profession because lie has worked for it persistently and in channels of 
honest endeavor. His rapidly growing prestige as one of the leading younger 
physicians of Parke and Vermillion counties stands in evidence of his ability 
and likewise serves a voucher for his intrinsic worth of character. His career 
has been wisely founded on the premise that perseverance, integrity and fidel- 
ity to duty will lead to success, and he has thus used his intellect to the best 
purpose. 

Dr. Overpeck was born in Parke county, Indiana, tiic representative of 
one of our sterling old families, his birth occurring on July 17. 1879. His 
parents were T. II. and Cynthia A. (Ball) 0\erpeck. The father was born 
on a farm in Adams township, this county, and he still lives on the place on 
which he was born, being now seventy-six years of age. He has devoted his 
life to agricultural pursuits and stock raising and has met with a larger degree 
of success than falls to the average tiller of the soil. He has kept the old 
place which his father settled in pioneer days, well improved and carefully 
cultivated so that it has retained its original fertility and richness of soil. His 
wife, who is still living, is also a native of Adams township, being the daugh- 
ter of another highly respected old family. To T. H. Overpeck and wife six 
children have been born, namely : Mrs. Ella Hall, of Anna]>olis, Indiana : 
Mrs. Will Neet lives near Rockville; Frank L. also lives near Rockxille: 
Perley H. lives south of Rockville: and Dr. C. W.. of this review. 

Dr. Overpeck was reared on the home farm and there he assisted with 
the general work when a boy. attending the rural schools in his neighlwrhood 
during the winter months at Wesley Chapel school. He spent one year at 
Bloomingdale Acadeni}- and one year at De Pauw I'niversity. His medical 
training began in 1899. when he entered Indiana Medical College at Indian- 
apolis, where he made an excellent record and from which institution he was 
graduated with the class of 1904. He soon thereafter returned to Parke 
countv and began practicing at the village of Catlin. near where he was 
reared, remaining three and one-half years there, being successful from the 
start. In the spring of 1907 he came to Rockville, where he has since re- 
mained and has built up a large and constantly growing practice with the 
town and surrounding country, maintaining a neat and well equipped office 
in the Rockville National Bank building. 



49*3 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Dr. Overpeck was married on April 23, 1904, to Luana H. Baker, daugh- 
ter of Samuel Baker, well known citizen of Rock\ille. This union has re- 
sulted in the birth of one child, Evelyn Louise. 

Fraternally, Dr. Overpeck belongs to the ^Masons, Knights of Pythias and 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of the Parke 
County Medical Society and the American Aledical Association. Politically, 
he is a Democrat and is loyal in his support of the party, though he does not 
find time from his general practice to take a very active part in public affairs. 
He served very acceptably and aljlv as coroner of Parke c<junt\- for a jieriod 
of two years, from 1908 to 1910. 



HOWARD MAXWELL. 

In no profession is there a career more open to talent than is that of the 
law, and in no field of endeavor is there demanded a more careful prepara- 
tion, a more thorough appreciation of the absolute ethics of life or of the un- 
derlying principles which form the basis of all human rights and privileges. 
Unflagging application and determination fully to utilize the means at hand 
are the concomitants which insure personal success and prestige in this great 
profession, which stands as the stern conservator of justice and in the practice 
of which success comes onlv as ihc legitimate result of cajjaliilitv. Possessing 
all the recpisite qualities of the able lawyer, Howard Maxwell stands today 
among the eminent practitioners of the Parke county bar. 

Howard Maxwell is a native of the county which is now honored by his 
citizenship, having been ]:)orn at Rockville on September i. 1865. He is the 
scion of one of the prominent old families of Parke county, his parents hav- 
ing been David H. and Anna F. (Smith) Maxwell, the former a native of 
Indiana and the latter of Ohio. David H. Alaxwell. who was born in 1825 
and whose death occurred on September 13. 1903. was a lawyer by pro- 
fession and for over a half century he was one of the leading members of the 
local bar, having been connected with most of the important litigation in this 
county. His ability as a lawyer was supplemented by the highest i)ersonal 
qualities of character. He was survived several years by his widow, whose 
death occurred on April 15, 1912. Thev were the parents of two children, 
the subiect of this sketch and Dr. Hugh S. ]\lax\\ell. of Pittslnirgh, Penns\-1- 
vania. 



PARKE AND VERiMI I.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 49I 

Howard Maxwell received his elementary cducaliDii in Uk- pulilic schools 
of Rockville, being a graduate of the high school, lie then attended Indiana 
State L'ni\ersity one year and then for three years was a student at Wabash 
College, where he was graduated in 1886. During the fullouing year he was 
engaged in teaching school and then, ha\ ing detern;ined to make the practice 
of law his life work, he began its study in the office of his father. In 1887 he 
was admitted to the bar and was thereafter associated with his father in the 
practice of his profession until the latler's death, in 1903. lie then practiced 
alone until June, 1907, when lie formed his present partnershi]) with Ji'hn S. 
McFadden. 

As a lawyer Mr. MaNwell evinces a familiarity with legal principles and 
a read\- perceiJtion of facts, together witii the aliihty to a])pl\ the one to the 
other, which has won him the reputation of a safe and sound practitioner. 
Years of conscientious work have brought with them not only increase of 
practice and reputation, but also that growth in legal knowledge and that 
wide and accurate judgment the possession of which constitutes marked ex- 
cellence in the profession. In the trial of cases he is uniformly courteous to 
court and opposing counsel, caring little for displaw but seeking to impress 
the jury rather bv weight of facts in his fa\or and by clear, logical argument 
than by appeal to passion or prejudice. In discussions of the principles of law- 
he is noted for clearness of statement and candor, his zeal for a client ne\ er 
leading him to urge an argument which in his judgment is not in harmony 
with the law. and all the important litigation with which he has been con- 
nected no one has ever charged him w-ith anything calculated to bring dis- 
credit upon himself or cast a reflection upon his ])rofession. Mr. .Maxwell 
possesses exceptional i)owers as a speaker whether ;it the bar or in puiilic ilis- 
course and is forcible and persuasive, though never offensive. 

In 1894 Mr. Maxwell was elected prosecuting attorney of the lifty- 
seventh judicial circuit and held that ofifice ff)r two terms, having also been 
deputv pro.secuting attorney for four years ])rior to his election. For several 
A-ears he rendered good service as counsel for the board of countv commis- 
sioners, in which capacity he always stood for the best interests oi all the 
people. He was appointed county attorney, holding the office twelve years, or 
until his resignation in [Qii. In 1908 he was the Republican nominee for 
Congress in the fiftieth congressional district, but in the general landslide of 
that vear he met defeat with the remainder of the ticket. Tie was a member' 
of the Rockville school board for several years, having always taken a deep 
interest in educational matters, but he resigned that position on accepting the 



49- PARKE .\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

nomination for Congress. It is worthy of note that Mr. Maxwell has never 
lost any appointive office held by him except by resignation. 

In business affairs JMr. Maxwell has been successful, his ripe judgment 
and persistent energy insuring success in that field as well as professionally. 
He is a stockholder and director in the Rockville National Bank and is a 
member of the company which erected the splendid opera house at Rockville. 

Politically, Mr. Maxwell is a stanch Republican from honest convictions 
and he has taken an active and influential part in the campaigns of his party 
ever since attaining his majority. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free 
and Accepted Masons. While in college, he became a member of the Beta 
Theta Pi fraternity. 

On December 27, 1894, Mr. Maxwell was united in marriage to Jennie 
Thomson, the daughter of William M. Thomson, one of the pioneer citizens 
of Rockville. and this union has been blessed in the birth of three children. 
Margaret, Warren and Richard. 



A. B. LOCKRIDGE, M. D. 

Although yet a young man, Dr. A. B. Lockridge, of Rockville, has had 
a wonderful success in alleviating the ills and sufferings of his fellow men. 
and in Parke county he is regarded as a credit to the noble profession in w hich 
he has been engaged for several years. When but a boy he manifested a lau- 
dable ambition to become a medical practitioner, and when his common school 
days came to an end his parents decided that the longing of his heart should 
be gratified and he was given evevy ad\ antage possible to make him what he is 
today, a well rounded, capable and talented general practitioner. 

Dr. Lockridge was born in Greencastle, Indiana. August 22. 1879. He 
is the son of Albert O. and Jessie TBirch) Lockridge. the father a native of 
Putnam county, this state, and the mother of Bloomington, Illinois, although 
she spent most of her life in Putnam county, Indiana. At this writing Albert 
O. Lockridge is postmaster at Greencastle and an influential citizen there. In 
fact, the Lockridge family is one of the oldest and most prominent in Putnam 
county. Two children were born to Albert O. Lockridge and wife, Dr. A. R., 
and Elizabeth, of Kansas City. 

Dr. Lockridge received his education in the public and high schools of 
Greencastle and later entered De Pauw Universitv, also in that citv. He re- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 493 

ceived his medical training at the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, 
where he made a splendid record and from which institution he was grad- 
uated with the class of 190O. Soon thereafter he went to Parke county, In- 
diana, and began practice at the town of Montezuma, remaining there two 
years, and in 1908 he came to Rockville, where he has built up a large and 
lucrative patronage, his practice extending all over the county, and he is re- 
garded as one of the leading younger members of his profession in Parke 
and Vermillion counties. 

Dr. Lockridge was married on December 6, 1906, to Edna Arntjld. of 
Greencastle, Indiana, and a } oung lady of man\- commendable attributes, the 
representative of an excellent family. 

Dr. Lockridge is a member of the American Medical Asstjciation, the 
Indiana State Medical Association and the Parke County Medical Society. 
He also belongs to the Beta Theta Pi, of Greencastle. and the Phi Chi, of the 
Indiana Medical College. Fraternally, he holds membership with the Knights 
of Pythias at Rockville. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and politically is a Republican, and, while he has neither the time nor the in- 
clination to mix very extensively in public affairs, he is always ready to sup- 
port any movement that has for its object the improvement of his town and 
county in any way. 



ISAAC A. PICKARD. 



There can be no greater honor or privilege than to conscientiously serve 
one's country during its days of peril. It requires something more than 
patriotic zeal for a man to forsake home, business, the pleasures of social or 
public life and voluntarily assume the hardships of the camp and the field, 
nnich less risk one's life in the brunt of battle, and the younger generation of 
today are apt to not give the respect due the honored "boys in blue" who saved 
the nation's integrity and who did so much for them. Isaac A. Pickard, one 
of Parke county's worthy native sons, who for many years was one of her 
leading business men and commendable public servants and who is now living 
retired in his pleasant home in Rockville, is one of the Northland's brave 
veterans who is eminently deserving of the high esteem in which he is univer- 
sally held. 

Mr. Pickard was born in Sugar Creek township. Parke county. Indiana. 
October 14. 1845. His parents were Isaac ^^^ and Sarah fFphlin) Pickard. 



494 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

The father was bom in North Carolina, as was also the mother, and they 
spent their earlier years in the old Tar state. Isaac W. Pickard came from his 
far-away old Southern home to Parke county, Indiana, about 1830, and was 
thus among the early settlers, locating in Liberty township, w here he began 
life in typical pioneer fashion. He devoted his life to farming and was a 
local preacher of the United Brethren church and a good and useful man. He 
died in Sugar Creek township in 1854, at the early age of forty-eight years. 
His wife sur\i\ed nearly a half century, dying at an advanced age in 1899. 
The_\' were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living at this 
writing, namely: John S.. of Sugar Creek township: William AI., of Liberty 
township: Amanda M.. widow of James H. Russell, of Rockville: Sarah C. 
widow of (leorge Moore, of Sugar Creek township: JMary M., widow of 
Joseph Harvey, of Liberty township; Mirinda. wife of Joseph Thompson, of 
Sugar Creek tciwnship, and Isaac A., of this review. 

Isaac A. Pickard was reared on the home farm, where he remained until 
he was seventeen years of age, working on the farm during the crop seasons 
and attending the rural schools in the winter time. He went from the farm 
to participate in the Civil war. enlisting in Company .\. Eighty-fifth Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, in which he ser\ed over two years with much credit and 
gallantr\-, seeing considerable hard service, participating in manv engage- 
ments, including the battles of Resaca, Peach Tree creek, and those inci- 
dent to the .Atlanta campaign. After the fall of that stronghold he accom- 
panied his regiment in its march w ith Sherman's armv to the sea. and after 
taking the city of Savannah, went on through the Carolinas, participating in 
the battle of .\verashoro, then on to Raleigh, and was in that city at the close 
of the war. He marched from Raleigh to Richmond, Virginia, thence to 
Washington City, where he took part in the Grand Review. He and other 
soldiers were sent from Washington on flat cars to Parkersburg, Virginia, 
where they took a boat to Louisville, Kentucky. Being discharged he came 
on home, and soon resumed farming in Sugar Creek township, which he con- 
tinued for one year. He then took a term in a graded school, desiring to com- 
plete his education in Fountain county, Indiana. Later he worked at the car- 
penter's trade and was also in the livery business for a while. He mo\-ed to 
Rockville in 18S4 and has since resided here. 

Taking a deep interest in public afifairs. Mr. Pickard was elected county 
treasurer in 1884 on the Republican ticket, and, making a most commendable 
record therein, he was re-elected to that important office in 1886, thus serving 
two terms with much credit. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 495 

Mr. Pickard was married on January 2. 1876. to Josephine Brockway, 
who was born in Liberty township, this county, the daughter of Hiram and 
Indiana (Laberty) Brockway. To tiiis union liave been born the following 
children: Alvis Burnie, deceased; Gloria ]\Iay. wife of Lee Woolery, of 
Tombstone, Arizona : Louis Aquilla lives on a farm in Penn township. Parke 
coimty; Sadie is the wife of Henry Haines, of Indianapolis: Isaac .\.. Jr.. 
lives at home. 

Mr. Pickard belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. l'''raternally, he 
is a member of the Masonic order at Rockville. He is a Republican in his 
political afifiliations. Personally, he is a plain, unassuming and obliging- gen- 
tleman who has a host of friends. 



C. C. MORRIS, M. D. 



The physician whu would succeed in his profession must possess manv 
qualities of head and heart not included in the curriculum of the schools and 
colleges he may have attended. In analyzing the career of the successful 
practitioner of the healing ;irt it will inevitably l)e found true that a broad- 
minded sympathy with the sick and suffering and an honest, earnest desire to 
aid his fellow men have gone hand in hand with skill and able judgment. The 
gentleman to whom this brief tribute is given. Dr. C. C. Morris, one of the 
best known general practitioners in Parke and Vermillion counties, fortun- 
ately embodies these necessary qualifications in a marked degree, and by 
energy and application to his professional duties has built up an enviable rep- 
utation anr] has drawn to himself a large and remunerative practice, being 
recognized not only as one of the leading physicians of this locality, but as a 
man of honor and integrity at all times. 

Dr. Morris is one of the county's native sons and the .scion of one of 
our worthiest pioneer families, his birth having occurred in Washington 
township. Parke county. Indiana. August 8, 1S48. and he is a son of Exum 
and Eleanor (Newlin^ Morris, both natives of North Carolina, the father 
having come north about 1838. first locating in Orange county. Indiana, 
later removing to Vermillion county, Illinois. In about 1842 he removed with 
his family to Parke county, locating on a farm a mile and a half east of 
Bloomingdale. known now as the Mendenhall farm. He lived there until 
i860, when he sold the place and moved to Plainfield. Hendricks county. 



496 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

where he hved until liis death, which occurred about a year later, in 1862. at 
the age of sixty-two years, having been born in 1800. Tlie mother of the 
subject then moved to a farm which she bought near Rockville, Parke county, 
where her death occurred in 1865. Ten children were born to these parents, 
only three of whom are li\ing at this writing", namely : Mrs. Anna J. Wilson, 
of Topeka, Kansas: jNIrs. Joshua K. Trueblood, of Long Beach, California, 
and Dr. C. C, of this review. 

Dr. Morris grew to manhood on the home farm, where he made himself 
generally useful during his boyhood days. He received his primary schooling 
in the rural schools and at the Bloomingdale Academy, later taking a col- 
legiate course at the State University at Bloomington. He prepared himself 
for a teacher, which profession he followed with success for a period of three 
years, but not finding the same entirely to his liking he entered Jefiferson 
Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1874, from which historic institution he 
was graduated with the class of 1876. He at once took up the practice of 
medicine at Rockville, Indiana, where he has remained to the present time, 
with ever-increasing success, having remained a profound student of all that 
pertains to his profession and having kept well abreast of the times in every 
advancement in the same, and his name has long since become a household 
word throughout this locality, being now one of the oldest practitioners in the 
county. 

Dr. ]\Iorris was married on June 29, 1876, to Alice Canaday, who was 
born and reared near Georgetown, ^''ermillion county, Indiana, and is the 
daughter of William Canaday and wife. Four children have been born to this 
union, namely: Jesse C, who lives at Green River, Utah: Stella is the wife 
of Dick Ott, one of the leading druggists of Rockville, Indiana : Alary is the 
wife of Roger H. Miller, of Los Angeles, California: Morrill Justin, who 
spent two years in Wabash College after his graduation from the Rockville 
high school, entered the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and is now 
in his second year in that institution. 

Dr. Morris is a member of the Parke County Medical Societ\', the In- 
diana Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Fraternally, 
he is a member of the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, and politically he is a Republican and at present he is ably serving the 
county as a health commissioner, which office he has held for many years. He 
is medical inspector for the schools of Adams township. He has long led 
every movement for bettering the health and sanitary conditions of the 
county. He was influential in getting the state tuberculosis hospital located 
at Rockville, and he is president of the county organization having for its 



PARKE AND NliRMII.LION COUXTIKS, TXDIAXA. 4(^7 

objtct the |)ie\enlioii uf tul)L'rcuIosis, his wmk in this line ha\iii- ni;i(k- him 
widely known over western Indiana. 

(irandfather NewHn, mentioned ahove, was a pioneer of I'arke couniv. 
He gave a church and a large grove to the town of Blooniingdale. it being a 
Quaker church. His death occurred at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. 
Dr. Morris' father was also a prominent Quaker and was instrumental in 
founding the Bloomingdale Academy. 



EWING CHAPMAN. 



The old-fashioned notion that hard work, patient industrx and far-sight- 
edness make for success in the various avenues of life does not seem to be 
accepted so unreservedly in ovu" day. The spread of pessimism engendered by 
many phases of our complex life is in a great measure responsible for the 
lack of faith in the old idea. However, if we observe conditions closely we 
will find that the intelligent individual who leads a practical and industrious 
life will reach a point of success commensurate with his efforts. The life nf 
Ewing Chapman will afford us an instance of this. For many \ears he 
ranked as one of the most po])ular and efficient educators of the section of 
the 1 loosier commonwealth of which this volume treats, but finallx'. tiring of 
that vocation, he turned his attention to business affairs and has for some time 
been conducting a fiuniture and undertaking establishment in the town of 
Rockville. I'arke county, l)eing regarded as one of the most representative 
citizens of that place. 

Mr. Chapman was born September i, 1874. in Jackson township. I'arke 
county, Indiana. His jiarents were Nathan and Minerva (Miller) Chapman, 
the father born in Missouri and the mother in I'utnam county, Indiana. 
Nathan Chapman has dexoted his life to agricultur;d pinsuits, in which he has 
met with a large measure of success, and he is now living in (Ireencastle. In- 
diana, still owning his hnely improved farm in I'arke county. His wife, 
mother of the subject, passed to her rest on May 9. 1890, leaving two sons, 
Ewing, of this sketch, and William, who lives near Manstield, i'arke county. 

Ewing Chapman was educated in the common schools and in the In- 
diana State Xormal School at Terre Haute. He jjrepared for life as a teacher, 
and followed this line of endeavor with gratifying success for a period of 
eight years in Parke county, during which time he was for three years i)rin- 
cipal of the schools at Marshall, the other five years being devoted to the r\u-al 

(32) 



498 PARKE AND \'ERllII,I.IOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

schools. He gave eminent satisfaction to both pnpils and patrons, and his 
services were in great demand. 

Taking an abiding interest in pubhc affairs, Mr. Chapman was elected 
■county clerk in 1904 on th3 Republican ticket, after having served four years 
as deput)' in that office. Thus he spent eight years in this important office, 
during which time he discharged his duties in a manner that reflected much 
credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned, gaining a 
wide accjuaintance all o\'er the county and numbering the major portion of 
his acquaintances as friends, owing to his genial and obliging nature, his 
scrupulous honest}' and high sense of honor and his faithful devotion to tlie 
best interest of the people. 

In the fall of 1909 Mr. Chapman engaged in the furniture and under- 
taking business, which line of endeavor he has continued to the present day 
with ever-increasing success, until he now has a large and lucrati\e ])atron- 
age. He kee])s a large and carefully selected stock of furniture, and ]5rom]it- 
ness and high-grade service is his aim in the undertaking department of his 
business. He is in partnership with Mr. Teague under the firm name of 
Teague & Chapman, 

On November 28, 1900, Mr. Chapman was united in marriage to Mellie 
Beeson, daughter of Stephen and Ellen (Teague) Beeson, an excellent and 
well known family of Marshall, this county. This union has resulted in the 
birth of one child, Maxwell Aliller Chapman, born March 2-j. 1904. 

Fraternally, Mr. Chapman belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the 
Masons. He is also a member of the Sons of Veterans, and religiously holds 
membership with the Methodist Episcopal church. 



WILLIAM H. CILLLM. M. D. 

No compendium such as the province of this work defines in its essential 
limitations will serve to present in detail the interesting life career of the 
well known venerable physician and surgeon. Dr. William H. Cjillum, of 
Rock\-ille. whose name has been a household word in Parke and ^''ermillion 
counties for nearly forty years, he having maintained his home here since 
1873, during which time he has done much for the general development of 
the county along all lines and has won a wide reputation among his pro- 
fessional brethren of this section of the Hoosier .state, and he is eminently 
entitled to the respect of his fellow men owing to the well ordered life he has 
led. his public spirit and his useful career. 



PAKKK AND VF.RM IT.I.ION COI'XTIKS, INDIANA. 499 

Dr. Gilhim is a .sciun of a fine old Soiitlifrn family, his hiitli having oc- 
curred in Augusta county. Virginia. November 22, 1847. '^'^ parents were 
Dr. P. G. and Mary L. (Jackson) Gilluni, the father having been a native of 
Albemarle county. Virginia, and the mother of Augusta county, Virginia. 
Dr. P. G. Gillum became a noted medical ])ractitioner of his native locality, and 
spent his life in the Old Dominion, being drowned there at the age of forty- 
one years. The mother of the subject of this sketch also spent her life in 
that state, dying at the adxanced age of seventy-five years. 

To Dr. P. G. Gillum and wife five children were born. Those living are 
Prof. Robert G. (iillum, of the Indiana State Normal: Mrs. Walter P.. Max- 
well, of Terre Haute. Indiana: and Dr. William H.. of this review. 

The subject was reared in his iiati\e state and he received' his primary 
schooling in the common schools, also attending the University of Virginia. 
•Later entering the College of Physicians and Surgeons at P)altimore, Mary- 
land, he was graduated from the same with the class of iSCm;. Immediately 
thereafter he went to Augusta county, Virginia. \\ here he engaged in the prac- 
tice of his profession for a period of four years, then, although successful 
there, he sought a newer field and came to Rockville, Indiana, and here he has 
remained, becoming one of the best known and successful general ])ractitioiiers 
in this section of the state, where he has always eiijcixed ;i \ ery large and lu- 
crative practice. He has kejjt well abreast of the times, remaining a profound 
and careful student nf all that pertains to his jirofession. lie is the second 
oldest doctor in Parke county in iroint of service. Only one physician who 
was here when Dr. (iilluni came is >till in the county. 

In Februarv. 1874. Dr. Gilhim was united in marriage with Rebecca 
Randoli)h. of Rockville, she being a daughter of James Randolph, of Augusta 
countv. Virginia. To this union one son was born. Dr. John Randolph 
Gillum. of Terre Haute, Indiana. 

Dr. Gillum had the honor of organizing the first medical society in Parke 
countv. in 1874, and he is still a member of the same, and it is not too much 
to say that its continued success has' been due \er\- largely to his efforts. This 
is the Parke County Medical Society. He is also a member of the State 
Medical Association and the National ^Medical Association. 

True to his ancestrv and traditions, Dr. Gilluni (|uite naturally cast his 
fortunes with the South during the great war between the states and he 
served most faithfullv and gallantly in the Confederate army for a period of 
three vears, seeing much hard service and jiarticipating in many important 
campaigns and hard-fought engagemeiilN. having been a menilier of the 
famous Stanton (A'irginia) \rtillery, and was with I.ee at the surrender at 



500 PARKE AND \'ERiIILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Appomattox. He is a member of the Pre.sbvteriaii church, and fraternally 
belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He was grand chancellor of the Knights 
of Pythias of Indiana for one term, and was representative of the snpreme 
lodge of Indiana to the national concla\e at twij different times. He is one 
of the best known and influential members of this order in the state. He also 
belongs to the Masonic order, being a Royal Arch Jilason and a member of 
the chapter at Rock\'ille. Politically, he is a Democrat, and has always been 
loyal in the support of his party. 

In 1888 he was the unanimous choice of Parke county Democrats for 
the nomination for Congress in the fifth district, but was defeated in the hot- 
test con\-ention of the district. 



STEPHEN A. PIKE. 



Through struggle to trium])h seems to be the maxim which holds sway 
for the majority of our citizens, and. though it is undoubtedly true that many 
fall exhausted in the conflict, a few by their inherent force of character and 
stron,g mentality, rise above their environment and all which seems to hinder 
them until they reach the plane of affluence toward which their face was set 
through the long }"ears of struggle that must precede any accom]:)lishment 
of more than ordinary magnitude. Such has been the history of Stephen .\. 
Pike, one of Parke county's able and popular county otticials. at this writing 
incumbent of the office of county assessor, a man whose record needs no 
embellishment by the biographer, for it is too well known and is too meritor- 
ious to need praise, his long retention in \arious capacities as a public ser\ant 
being criterion sufficient of his worth and of the uni\-ersal esteem in which he 
is held. 

Mr. Pike was born .August 24. 184". in Henrv county. Indiana, the son 
of Samuel and Mary ( Moricle) Pike, the father a native of this state, and 
the inother of Virginia, of German parentage. Early in life Samuel Pike 
came to Indiana and here spent the rest of his life, living in Henr\-, \Va\ne, 
Putnam and Parke counties, his death occurring in the latter, he having come 
to this county in 1850. He was a miller by trade and, being proficient, his 
services were in much demand. He made his home in Rockxille and vicinitv 
for many years, but died in Bloomingdale, at the age of se\entv-nine vears. 
Mrs. Mary Pike, his wife, survived until 1894, reaching the advanced age of 
eighty-three years. They became the parents of twelve children, seven of 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COl'NTI KS, INDIANA. 5OI 

whom arc li\ini;' at this writing, nanielx : SaiiUK-l A., nf C'liicago; l.ydia. 
widow of Benjamin Ratcliff, of Rockville ; Martha, who was the widow of 
William P. Thomlinson. died on November 6. i()i2; Miranda, wife of Will- 
iam Burks, of Bloomingdale. this county: Kadiacl, wife of Jesse Clarke, of 
Annapolis. I'arke fnunty, this state: Mar\-, widow of Milton liadley. also 
lives at the village of Annapolis: and Stephen A., (if this review. 

Although Stephen A. Pike was liorn in ilenry county, he s])enl hut a 
few years there, for when a bo\' his ])arenls removed to Wayne county, later 
to Putnam county, and finallv to Parke county, when the subject was twelve 
years of age. and here he grew to manhood and receix'ed his education in the 
common schools and in the Friends Academ\- at Bloomingdale. umler Prof. 
B. C. Hohbs. He pre])ared himself for a teacher and this line of wi^rk he 
followed with much success until 1884. during which time his services were in 
great demand in this and other counties, but be confined his work as teacher 
to Parke county, with the exception of one \vvu\ :u Paris, lulgar count). Illi- 
nois, He taught in L'nion and Jackson lowuships. I'arke counl\. Indiana. 
He always manifested a livelv interest in the affairs of his county, a.ssisting 
in any way he could in its betterment, and in 1884 he was chosen as deputy 
county auditor under Edwin T. Hadlex. serving in succession under that gen- 
tleman. Samuel T. t'atlin and Elias II. ()wen. toi' a period of liftecn years in 
all. In i8()8 he was elected countv auditor on the kepublican ticket. In January. 
1903, he engaged in the abstract business for four years, during w hich time he 
developed a tine set of abstract books. In \i)n(> he was elected county asses.sor. 
and re-elected in iqio. and is at ibis writing serving his second term. He has 
thus served in every office in the court house exce])t clerk and sheriff" and is 
probably the best posted man in the court house. .As a ])ublic servant he has 
ever been diligent, pain.staking, courteous, obliging and scru])ulously honest, 
so that he is very i)opular with all concerned, irresjjectixe of party ties, al- 
though he has ever adhered to the principles of the Reinil)lican party. 

Mr. Pike was married on August 3. 1882. to Delia Ray!, of Hamilton 
countv. Indiana. She is a daughter of James and .Margaret (Clarke) Rayl. a 
highly respected family of that section of the state. To the subject and wife 
six children were born, namely: Maude L., who was the wife of Robert 
Musser, is now deceased: Earl H.. who died in infancy: Jessie .A., who is a 
graduate of the local high school, is a saleslady in a Rockville store and lives 
at home: Paul R. is a teacher, now employed in the Normal College at Dan- 
ville. Indiana : .Albert R., who is a graduate of the Danville Normal College, 
is at present assisting his father: Mary Dell is at home and attending school. 

Mr. Pike is a member of the blue lodge of Masons, in Rockville. Parke 



502 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Lodge No. 8, one of the oldest lodges in the state. His wife and daughters 
are members of the Eastern Star. Religiously, INIr. and Mrs. Pike belong to 
the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a member of the Sunday school 
Bible class of one hundred and ninety-three members. 



HENRY GRUBB. 



. Eor a period of more than a quarter of a century the name of Henry 
Grubb was widely known over the middle West as a manufacturer of staves 
and a saw-mill man. and during that time he operated over a wide field and 
did business on an extensive scale. In his career Mr. Grubb has seen the 
gathering clouds that threatened disaster, but his rich inheritance of energy 
and pluck has ever enabled him to turn near defeats into victories and prom- 
ised failures into successes. He has ever enjoyed in the fullest measure 
the public confidence, because of the honoral)le methods he has ever followed, 
and is one of the highly esteemed men of Parke county. He is now living 
practically retired in his commodious home in Rockville. 

Mr. Grubb was born in Putnam county, Indiana. February lo. 1846. 
He is a son of Joseph and Ann (Cricks) Grubb, the father born in Dela- 
ware. January 2, 1816. and the hitter's birth occurred in New Jersey, De- 
cember 9, 1819. They were the parents of the following children: Anier, 
Joseph, George, Henry, Matilda. Sarah, John. Edward, Jesse and Sherman. 
The father was a farmer and cabinet-maker and was regarded as one of 
the finest workmen in his section of the country, having served an appren- 
ticeship of seven years. He came to Indiana about 1831, locating in Madi- 
son township, Putnam county. At one time he was county surveyor of 
Putnam county. Politically, he was a Republican, and he was a strong 
Union man and offered his ser\ices to his country during the Civil war, but 
on account of his age and disability was refused. There were only three 
Union men in his community of two miles square. He had a good farm in 
Putnam county and there he spent the rest of his life. 

Henry Grubb was reared on the home farm and there he helped with 
the general duties when a boy, attending the common schools in the winter 
time. Although but sixteen years old, he left school to go to war. enlisting 
in Company E, Twenty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was after- 
wards changed to the First Indiana Heavy Artillery. The date of his en- 
listment was November 30, 1862. and he served three }ears in a most faith- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION" COLNTIE;;. LNDIANA. 5O3 

fill and gallani manner, seeing much hard service, and was hcjnoiahly dis- 
charged on November 30. 1805. lie was in the two-days battle at i'ort 
Bizlon, Louisiana, was in the siege of Port Hudson of forty-eight days, and 
other engagements. He was never wounded, but had his clothes cut by 
bullets. After the war he returned htmie and later went to Lexington, bnva. 
where he attended school for a year and then came back to Indiana and 
attended Waveland Academy, at the town of Waveland, two terms. He 
then taught school with much success for a period of nine years, in I'arke 
county, Indiana. Tiring of the school room and desiring a broader field in 
which to exercise his talents in a business way, he took uj) the saw-mill 
business in Jackson township, this county, and followed that two years, then 
engaged in the stave business, which he followed for a period of thirty 
years, operating on an extensive scale in Kentucky, Tennessee and .Missis- 
sippi, and he still does something in this line, making two hundred thousand 
staves in the year 1912, operating now in Mississippi. High grade work 
has always been his aim and his products have ever found a very ready mar- 
ket. In Indiana in 1895 he made staves for the largest oak stave cask in 
the world, for Alfred Hurt, of Greencastle. Indiana, he having done busi- 
ness with Mr. Hurt for a period of tiiirty years without contract. The 
above mentioned cask was exhibited in I'aris in 1900 at the World's Fair, 
and Air. Grubb made the tri]) to Paris that \ear and attended the exposition, 
going bv way of London and \isited Scotland. Germany, Switzerland and 
Belgium. In the stave business Mr. Grubb has been \ery successful, ha\ ing 
up-to-date equipment, working hundreds of men and handling hundreds of 
thousands of dollars. 1 f all the slaves he has made were placed length- 
wise they would encircle the globe. He has laid by an ample competency 
for his old age and is now rated as one of the substantial men of I'arke 
county. 

Mr. Grubb moved in Jackson township, this county, .-\pril 5. 1873. this 
being just across the county line from Madison township, Putnam county. 
He had purchased a farm of eighty-three acres in Jackson township in 
1871, which he still owns, together with over six hundred acres of valuable 
land, all told, in Parke county, and four hundred acres in Mississippi, mak- 
ing a total of more than one thousand acres. He lived on his farm in Jack- 
son township until he moved to Rockville, .\pril 7, 1903, when he built a 
fine residence in the best section of the city. 

Mr. Grubb was married on March 28. 1875, to Euiihony E. Harney, 
daughter of John and Euphony (Martin) Harney.^ the father having been 
born in Indiana and the mother in South Carolina. Mrs. Grubb wa- bnrn 



504 PARKE AND VERilll.LIOX COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

in Union township. Parke county, this state. To the subject and wife four 
children have been torn, namel}' : Aliram. wife of Walter D. McMurty, of 
Marshall, Parke county; Carrie is at home: Marion married Otis Harmless 
and has one child, Henry Marion: Clelie .\. is at home. 

;\Ir. Grubl) was elected county surveyor on the Republican ticket in 
1882 and served two years. He has been deputy surve}'or practically ever 
since, and at this writing he is doing some work for the present countv- 
surveyor. The subject is regarded as one of the most expert surveyors of 
the country, and as a public servant he ga\e the utmost satisfaction, both as 
a sun'evor and as county auditor, having been elected to the latter office in 
1902 and serving for a period of four years. He belongs to the Knights of 
Pvthias and the Grand Army of the Republic. 



ARTHUR A. HARGRAVE. 

It is a well recognized fact that the most powerful influence in shaping 
and controlling public life is the press. It reaches a greater number of 
people than any other agency and thus always has been and always will be 
a most important factor in moulding public opinion and shaping the destiny 
of the nation. The gentleman to a brief review of whose life the following 
lines are devoted is prominently connected with the journalism of western 
Indiana, and at this time is editor and publisher of the Rock-i'illc Republican. 
one of the most influential and popular newspapers of Parke county, com- 
paring favorably with the best local sheets in this section of the state in 
news, editorial abilit\' and mechanical execution. The county recognizes in" 
Mr. Hargrave not only an able and sagacious newspaper man, but also a 
representative citizen, whose interest in all that afYects the general welfare 
has been of such a character as to w in for him a high place in the confidence 
and esteem of the people. 

Arthur A. Hargrave was born at Portland Mills. Putnam county, In- 
diana, on August 15, 1856, and is the son of William H. and Susan (Bishop) 
Hargrave. He is descended on the paternal side from sturdy old Virginia 
stock, his progenitors having been early settlers of the Old Dominion. The 
subject's paternal grandfather, Cornelius T. Hargrave, was born near the 
city of Richmond, removing to the state of Ohio about the year 1830. He 
engaged in farming in the Buckeye state until 1842, when he removed to 
Indiana and purchased a farm in Putnam county, to which he gave his at- 
tention and where he resided until his death, which occurred at Russellville 



PARKE AND VERMII-I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. c;o5 

in 1888. At Circle\illc. Ohio, lie married h'lizahelli A. (.e|iliarl and lliev 
became the parents of ei^ht children, one of whom was the subject's father, 
William H. Hargrave. The latter was born at Lancaster, Fairfield county, 
Ohio, on October ii. 1834, and at the age of eight years accompanied the 
family on their removal to Indiana. He was reared to manhood at the old 
homestead in Putnam county, securing his education in the common schools. 
In 1868 he moved to Rock\ ille and was variously engaged until 1884, when 
he embarked in the furniture and undertaking business, in which he met 
with pronounced success. 

During the war of the Rebellion Mr Hargraxe rendered faithful serxice 
in defense of his country as a member of Company B. Seventy-eighth In- 
diana \'olunteer Infantry, with the rank of second sergeant of his company, 
and at the close of hostilities received an honorable discharge. He is a lead- 
ing citizen of Rockxille and served efficiently for four vears as trustee of 
Adams township. 

In 1855 Mr. -Hargrave was married to Susan I'ishop, the daughter of 
David Bishop, of Putnam county, the union l)eing blessed with five children. 
Arthur A., the immediate subject of this sketch: Prof. Charles A. Har- 
grave, prominently connected with Central Normal C^ollege. Dainille. In- 
diana, for ()\er thirtx' \ears. ])art of the time acting i)resident, now secretarv 
of the corporation; Mrs. Jesse R. Long, deceased: Miss I.u Hargraxe. of 
Rockxille, and one son, who died in infancy. 

.\rthur A. Hargrave was but two years old when his family removed 
to the Putnam county farm, where he remained until thirteen years old. 
when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Rockville. w-here he 
completed his elementary education in the public .schools. At the age of 
seventeen years he entered the ofifice of the RockvUlc Rcfnihlican as an ap- 
prentice to the printer's trade, but in 1876. feeling the need of further educa- 
tional training, be entered Wabash College, where he w^as graduated in 
1881, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. .\ few years later the college 
conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. While a .student in that 
institution he was one of the Baldwin prize es.sayists. his ability as a student 
giving hini an enviable standing. 

Upon leaving college. Mr. Hargrave accepted a position as rejxjrter 
on the Kansas Cit\ Journal, returning to Rockville at the end of a year. In 
the spring of 1883 Mr. Hargrave became a reporter on the Terre Haute 
Express, but about the same time he was offered a position by the Presby- 
terian Board of Foreign Missions, which be accepted' and in September, 
1883, sailed for Persia. He was placed in charge of the board's printing 



506 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

establishment at Oroomiah, ami. the printing being done in the Syriac lan- 
guage, he was compelled to master that tongue, which he soon succeeded in 
doing. During a portion of the time abroad he was the editor of a monthly, 
Rays of Light, also printed in the Syriac language. In 1887, because of 
Mrs. Hargrave's poor health, they returned to the United States and for a 
time made their home at Terre Haute, where Mr. Hargrave became assistant 
editor of the Express. In the spring of 1888 he came to Rockville and pur- 
chased the Rockville Republican, of which he has since been publisher and 
editor. .\t the time of the purchase the property had greatly depreciated 
in value, but, by his aggressive and energetic policy, Mr. Hargrave made of 
it one of the best local newspapers in the state, a reputation which it is fully 
sustaining at this time. The plant is a modern one in every respect, the 
mechanical equipment including a simple.x type-setting machine and other 
labor-saving machinery. The paper, which is issued weekly, is Republican 
in its political views, wields a powerful influence in the county, and as a news- 
paper the Republican covers the field thoroughly and enjoys a large and 
constantly-increasing circulation throughout Parke county and adjacent ter- 
ritory. As a writer Mr. Hargra\e wields a forceful and trenchant pen and 
he gives hearty and earnest support to every movement which promises to 
benefit the community at large. Personalh', he possesses those qualities 
which commend him to the people, among whom he is held in the highest 
respect and esteem. 

The Republican is the oldest newspaper in Parke county, having l^een 
founfled in 1839 as the Olii'c Branch, which later became the Parke Comity 
Whig. In 1856, at the birth of the Republican party, the name of the paper 
was changed to the True Republican, under which name it was published for 
some time, eventually becoming known as the Parke Connty Republican. 
which was finally changed to its present title, the Rockville Republican. 

On July 9, 1885, at Oroomiah, Persia, Arthur A. Hargrave was mar- 
ried to Marian S. Moore, the daughter of Rev. E. G. Moore, they having 
first met during Mr. Hargrave's residence in that field. To this union have 
been born five children, namely : Palmer W., who was born in Persia in 
1886, graduated from the Rockville high school in 1905 and from Wabash 
College in 1909. afterwards locating in Portland, Oregon, where he is en- 
gaged in business, and Clarence M. Hargrave, who graduated from the 
Rockville high school and Wabash College in the same classes with his 
brother and was a Baldwin prize essayist. Following graduation he became 
an instructor in chemistry at Michigan .Agricultural College, resigning to 
accept an appointment as chemist in the pure food department at Washing- 



PAKKE AND VERMII.I.IOK COL'NTIKS, INDIANA. 507 

ton, now employed as chemist with the Prest-O-Litc Company, IndianapoHs. 
Ethel is a teacher in the primary grade of the Rock\ille public schools. 
William B. is a student in Wabash College, while .Marjoric is a student in 
the local schools. Mr. Hargrave takes a deep interest in educational mat- 
ters and has rendered efficient service as a trustee of the KocUxilk- schools. 
Politically, Mr. Hargrave is a stanch Republican, religiously, is a 
Presbyterian, and his fraternal relations are with the I'Yee and Accepted 
Masons, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen. In every avenue of 
life's activities in which he has engaged Mr. Ilargra\e has performed his 
part with fidelity and, because of his honorable record and high jiersonal 
worth, he cnjovs a large circle of warm and loyal friends. 



JOSEPH j. DANIELS. 

,\ny histor}' of this section of Indiana woukl be incomplete without due 
mention of the venerable Joseph J. Daniels, of Rockville, Parke county, 
one of the real historic characters of this locality and one of our worthiest 
citizens, a man whose life has been a blessing to the many whom it has 
touched and who has lived to see and take part in the wondrous develop- 
ment of this vicinity, being one of the remaining connecting links between 
the past and the present. 

Mr. Daniels was Ix)rn at Marietta, Ohio, which place was one of the 
first settlements of the Northwest, May 22, 1826, He is of Yankee par- 
entage. His father, Steven Daniels, was a full-blooded Connecticut Yan- 
kee, born in 1797, though his birth occurred at Bloomfield, Ontario county. 
New York, where his parents had removed just a montii before his birth. 
His mother was Sophia Warren, and she was born sixteen miles southwest 
of Boston, Massachusetts, of good old New England stock, Steven Daniels 
was first a builder of houses and later a Iniilder of bridges. Toward the 
latter part of the year 1819 he left his native community, and went to Olean. 
Pennsyhania, where he worked as a carpenter a short time, then moved on 
to Marietta, Ohio, and from there to Ironton. that slate, where he gave up 
house carpentering and began bridge Ijuilding exclusively. Later he re- 
turned to Marietta and there spent his last days, his death occurring in 1853. 
Toseph J. Daniels began working w ith his father when a young man and 
continued the building business until after the father's death. In 1851 he 
came to Parke countv. Indiana, to build a bridge in Cnion town-lii]). and on 



508 PARKE AND VERillLLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Marcli 6, 1861, he located here permanently. Most of the bridges of Parke 
county are monuments to his engineering skill and his honest workmanship, 
he having built more than a dozen bridges in this county and a like number 
in \'erniillion county, three in Putnam county, two in Montgomery countv 
and one in \'igo county, and at other points in Indiana, he having been one of 
the best known bridge builders in the western part of the state for manv 
years. He Inult his first bridge in Indiana near the town of Rising Sun in 
1850. He also liuilt man}- bridges in Ohio and Kentucky. gi\ing eminent 
satisfaction e\'erywhere. His reputation was one of unimpeachable honestv. 
and men in many walks of life and in various parts of the state bear witness 
to his exalted character. 

In 1854 Mr. Daniels became superintendent of the Evansville & Craw- 
fordsville railroad and moved to Evansville, where he lived two vears, then 
ga\'e U]i the ]iosition. He had done his work exce]itionalh- well, his 
re|)utati(in in that field of endeavor going abroad o\er the land, ruid he was 
subsequent!}' offered positions as superintendent on three different railroads. 

Mr. Daniels was married March 9. 1S51, to Claris.sa Blessing, of 
Pennsylvania, and of German extraction. To this union five children were 
born, namely: Henrv. an attorney at Rock\ille. Indiana: Edward, an at- 
torney of Indianapolis: Parke, who lives in the state of Mississippi, lie- 
side two daughters, who died in childhood. .\ sketch of the oldest son ap- 
pears elsewhere in this work. 



DANIEL C. JOHNSON. 

The life record of Daniel C. Johnson, prominent attorney of Clinton, 
is worthy of careful consideration and emulation by the youthful readers 
of this work, for in it lie many valuable lessons. His has indeed been a varied 
and interesting career and he has made a success of whatever he has turned 
his attention to, farming, teaching, merchandising, and as a soldier and at- 
torney. He is a fine t}pe of the successful self-made man, for he began 
life under no favorable auspices, but by indomitable courage and persever- 
ance he has removed, one by one, the obstacles from his path and won suc- 
cess all along the line, becoming well known as one of the leading attorneys 
of this section of Indiana, and while a member of the state Legislature his 
reputation became widespread. Withal he is a plain, unassuming gentleman 
who has won the confidence and good will of all classes. 



PAKKE AiVD \ERMILI.ION COrXTIKS, INDIANA. 509 

Mr. Johnson was Ixirn in Lafayette, Indiana. ( Jrtoher _^, iS4_', and is a 
sou of Samuel and Esther (Clark) John.son, both natives of ()hii) and both 
now deceased. They came from that state to Indiana in an earl\ dav and 
here became well established on a farm, spending their li\es eiigaijed in agri- 
cultural pursuits. They became the parents of nine children, namely; Daniel 
C, of this sketch, being the eldest; Sarah C, llenrv T., ^)^iall. ( ieorge W.. 
Christopher C, James L., .Munn and Molly. 

Daniel C, Johnson grew to manhood on the lidU'e farm and, being the 
oldest child, much hard wnrk devnlxeil upon him when a bii\' assisting his 
father with the de\'elopment and cultivation of the home ])iace. He re- 
ceived his early education in the country schools in Illinois, and earl\- in life 
turned his attention to fanning, which he followed until the breaking out 
of the Civil war. He was but eighteen years old when, on Jul\ jo. 1861, 
he enlisted in Comi)any H. Twenty-tifth Illinois X'olunteer lnfantr\-, which 
was assigned to the Army of the Cumbt'rland, and .Mr. Johnson saw much 
hard service, participating in man\- h.ard-fonght engagements, in all of which 
he proved to be as true a soldier as the older veterans of his regiment. He 
was with Sherman all through the .\tlanta cam])aign, and participated in 
the great battles of Stone's Ri\er, Chickamauga. etc. He was honorably 
discharged at Springfield, Illinois, Scptcml)er 1, 1864. He returned home 
at once and resumed farming, Init later took up merchandising at Tuscola, 
Illinois, which he followed some time, then began teaching and in this was 
very successful, becoming superinteiuleni of schools at Clinton, Indiana, 
for two years. He then l>egan the study of law at home, was admitted to 
the bar in 1885, having prepared himself for the legal profession. He soon 
began practice and bad a very satisfactory patronage from the first, and as 
the vears advanced he look his ])lace in the front i.ank of lawyers of \'er- 
million. countw which position he has held to the present time. He' has 
figured prominently in many of the most important cases in the local courts 
since he established himself here, and he is known to be a safe, persistent 
and well informed counsellor .and a man who has great weight with jurors, 
always going into court fully jirepared. 

Mr. Johnson was married on .\pril 3, iXfx), to Louisa Lester, daugh- 
ter of Sigler H. and I'arthenia Lester, both natives of Kentucky, from which 
state thev removed to Douglas county, Illinois, where they settled, and 
there the subject was married. Three children have been born to Mr. and 
]\frs. lohn.son, namelv ; Ora A. is the eldest; Charles E. is a jirofessor in 
the ])reparatorv department of the I'niversity of Chicago; Rose M. has been 
principal of the Columbia school at Clinton for the i>ast five years. 



5IO PARKE .\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Fraternally, ]\Ir. Johnson is a member of the Free and Accepted Ma- 
sons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the 
Improved Order of Red Men, having passed all the chairs in the three 
latter, and he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, 
Lodge Xo 86. at Terre Haute. Indiana. He has long been well known and 
actixe in fraternal circles in this part of the state. He is a member of the 
Presbyterian church and a liberal supporter of the same. Politicall\'. he is 
a stanch Republican and has long been active and influential in the ranks of 
his party. He \\as mayor of the city of Clinton for three terms, during 
\vhich he did much for the permanent good of the city. He was a member 
of the state Legislature from 1901 to 1907, making a most commendable 
record as a rejjresentative. winning the hearty approval of all concerned. 



CHARLES W. ASHLEY. JR., M. D. 

The medical profession of Parke and Vermillion counties has no more 
worthy ex]:)onent among its younger practitioners than Dr. Charles W. Ash- 
ley, Jr.. of Clinton, for, though young in years, he has mastered almost every 
phase of his calling and has achieved a brilliant reputation, taking his place 
among the successful and popular medical men of this section of the Hoosier 
state, and, judging from his past worthy record, the future must necessarily 
hold much in store for him, for he is a profound student, jiroposing to keep 
full)' abreast of the times in all that jjcrtains to his vocation and nature has 
endowed him with the necessar\- characteristics of the successful physician, 
and a personality that makes him a favorite with all classes. 

Dr. Ashley was born December 22. 1882, at Clinton, Indiana, lie being 
the only child of Charles \\". and Emma (Morgan) Ashley, the father a 
native of Boon\ille. \\'arrick county, Indiana, and the mother was a' native 
of ^''ermillion county, this state, and they were reared, educated and mar- 
ried in their native state and are living at this writing at Clinton, where they 
hax'c long ni;iintained a pleasant bnnie and are well and favorabh' known. 

Dr. Ashley was reared to manhood in liis native town and he received 
his primary education in the public schools and high school of Clinton. Early 
in life he decided to enter the medical profession and with this end in view 
he entered the Medical College of Indiana at Indianapolis, where he made 
a splendid record and from which institution he was graduated with the 
class of 1905. Soon afterwards he returned to Clinton and began the prac- 
tice of his profession, opening an office in Jul\-. 1905. and he has remained 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 51I 

here to the present time, successfully engajied in the general practice, with 
ever-growing success. 

Dr. Ashley was married on .\]iril 30, 191 j, to Jane 'Margaret lirother- 
ton. of Terre Haute. Indiana, being a young ladv of many ])raiseworthy 
traits and the representative of an excellent family. 

Fraternally, the Doctor is a memljer of Jerusalem Lodge No. 99, Free 
and Accepted Masons, and Chapter No. 10)5, Royal Arch Masons, at Clin- 
ton, also the Bene\olent and Protective Order of Flks, Lodge No. 86. at 
Terre Haute. Indiana. He belongs to the Clinton Medical Society and the 
American Railway Surgeons. He is a surgeon for the Chicago & Eastern 
Illinois Railroad and is .giving eminent satisfaction in this connection, being 
held in high favor by the officials of that road. He is also secretary of the 
local board of health and is doing fine work in that capacity. Politically, he 
is an ardent Republican and takes much interest in public affairs. 



MARK E. NEBEKER. 

One of the ablest and most ])roHiising of the lawyers of the younger 
generation in Vermillion county who is deserving of special mention in a 
work of the province assigned to the one in hand is Mark E. Nebeker. of 
Clinton. He is a man who is enamored of his work, which fact is essential 
to high accomplishment in any line, for Longfellow's line is true. "His 
heart w^as in his work, and the heart giveth grace to every art." Mr. Xe- 
beker has spared no pains in order to advance himself in the legal profession, 
alwavs a ])rofound student and a close observer and of untiring persever- 
ance and it is safe to predict for him a brilliant future in his chosen field of 
endeavor. 

Mr. Nebeker is a scion of one of the prominent old families of Ver- 
million county, the bright name of which he has been careful to keep un- 
tarnished. Pie was born in Clinton, Indiana, January 25, 1885, and is a son 
of Henrv and Ida M. Nebeker. the father becoming one of the best known 
men in this localitv during a past generation, having practiced medicine here 
with much success for a j^eriod of thirty-five years, or from the time he began 
his career until his death, in 1909. at the age of fifty-four years. He was 
not onlv an able iihysician, enjoying a lucrative and extensive practice in 
Clinton and the surrounding countr\-, but he was a public-spirited man who 
did much for the general good of bi^; coiunnmity. The mother of the subject 



512 PARKE AND VERM ILI.IUX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

is Still living here. Aquilla Xebeker. grandfather of the subject, was one 
of the early settlers of Vermillion county, having come here from the state 
of Delaware, and from that early day to the present the family has been 
well known and influential here. 

Mark E. Nebeker, the only child of Dr. Henry Xebeker and wife, was 
reared in Clinton and educated in the common schools here, later taking a 
course in Culver Military Academy, then entered the Uni\-ersit\- of Illinois, 
where he made a splendid record for scholarship and from which institu- 
tion he was gradauled with the class of 1908. Early in life he had deter- 
mined upon a legal career and, bending every effort in that direction, he was 
admitted to the bar in 1906. Thus well prepared for his vocation, he opened 
an office in Clinton and here he has gradually built up- a large and .satisfac- 
tory practice which is ever growing and he is rapidly taking a front rank 
at the local bar. He always goes into court well prepared, is careful, ener- 
getic and loyal to the interests of his clients, and his arguments in court have 
great weight with juries. 

Mr. X^ebeker has remained unmarried. Politically, he is a Republican 
and has been active and influential in the ranks for some time. During the 
campaign of 191 J he was his party's choice as a candidate for prosecuting 
attorney. Fraternally, he belongs to the Free and Accepted ]\Iasons, at 
Clinton, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Terre Haute. 



SAMUEL BREXTOX D.WIS. 

Among the eminent juurnalists of Indiana was Samuel B. Davis, who 
for more than forty years wielded a forceful editorial pen un Tlic Hoosicr 
State, Xewport, Indiana. At the time his spirit took its flight. April 2, 1908, 
it was said of him that he had owned and edited the Hoosicr State forty 
years, being the oldest editor in the L'nited States, if not in the entire world. 
in point of continuous ser\ice on the same paper. 

Of his ancestry it may be said that his great-grandfather. Jeremiah 
Davis, was a native of Wales, and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war. His grandfather, John Davis, his father, Robert Davis, and his mother, 
Melvina (Taylor) Davis, were all born in Montgomery county. Virginia. 

In the autumn of 1839 his parents moved to Indiana, where he was 
bom three years later, on the ^d of June. 1842. at .\nnapolis. Parke county. 
At the age of thirteen vears his father removed to \'ermillinn county and 




SAMUEL B. DAVIS. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 513 

settled on a farm in llelt luwu.shii), where lie resided unlil his death, in i8yo. 
Samuel JJ. lived with his parents and worked on the farm unlil the breaking 
out of the Civil war in 1861. At that date he was a large and powerful 
youth of nineteen years of age, and when i'resident Lincoln issued his call 
for volunteers for ninety days, his father persuaded him to stay and help him 
on the farm until the next call for troops, when he said he would consent to 
his going, lie enlisted in Compaii)- C, Eighteenth Regiment, Indiana In- 
fantry, in July, 1861. lie (jarticipated in the battle of Tea Ridge, the siege 
of Vicksburg, and a numl)er of skirmishes, and after a service of one and a 
half years in the Union army, he had a severe attack of measles which he 
contracted on a forced march through a rain, and took a cold which settled in 
his right arm anfl riglit leg. crip])ling him for life aiirl necessilaling the use of 
crutches. 

Jn 1866 Mr. Davis was elected treasurer of N'ermilliou couutv . and was 
re-elected in 1868. During his inciiml)enc\ the office was roblied of about 
thirty -five thousand dollars. The thieves were seen and followed. Init ihe\ 
made good their escape, though a part of the monev was recovered later. .Mr. 
Da\-is made an ideal treasurer, and also had serx'ed as trustee of his town- 
ship three terms, each time l)eiug elected bv an increased majority, the iirst 
time being elected bv ten, the second term liy thirlv and the last term liy 
eighty-fi\c majority. He was a Rejmlilican of the stalwart t\pe. 

In the month of Jfinuary. 1868, while in Clinton, this county, collecting 
taxes for \'ermiIHon rount\-. he met Ccu. IT. D. \\'a>;hliuni. who had re- 
cently jjurchased the Jfoosicr State for political reasons, rather than as a 
speculation, he being a candidate for Congress at the time, and lie offered to 
sell the office and good will of the same to Mr. Davis for five hundred dol- 
lars. .\t that date ]\Ir. Davis was only twenty-six years of age. and was 
without newspaper experience, but he nc\'ertlieless bougiit tlie pl.int and took 
control .\pril 23, 1868. On May r. 1893, on account of ill liealth. he leased 
the office to his .sons, ?.ird H. and Fred W. Davis, who had cliarge of the 
paper three years, the father, however, doing much of the editorial work. In 
April, 1896, the firm name was changed from Davis Bros, to S. ?.. Davis bi- 
sons, editors and publishers. Subserpiently, the son. Fred W. Davis, with- 
drew from the firm and at the death of the senior Davis the nflnce fell to the 
wife, Mrs. Sarah C. Davis, to be her property during life. Bird H. Davis is 
now the editor and manager of the paper. 

Beginning with a subscription list of two hundred and fiftv in i8ri8. 



514 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Mr. Davit; built it up to tilteen hundred, and never offered premiums, but 
depended upon the real merits of his newspaper for increasing his circulation, 
which steadily increased under his superior journalistic management. As a 
soldier there was none braver, and as an editor he was bright, fearless and 
witty, and as a friend he was generous, loyal and ever true. Jrle never re- 
membered an enemy nor forgot a friend. Whether on the battlefield or in the 
editorial room, he was a fighter that nexer asked, but alw axs gave quarters to 
an eneni}'. 

Of J\lr. Davis's domestic relations let it be said that in 18O8 he was united 
in marriage to Sarah Cauady, who still survives and is an honored resident 
of Newport, where so many years of her life were spent as the faithful com- 
panion of Air. Davis. To them were born six children: Bird H., now editor 
and manager of the Hoosicr State; Clara, of Newport; Ora D., of Terre 
Haute: h'red W".. of Redlands, California: Ken Al., of Kcukuk. Iowa, wliere 
he is engaged in erecting ])ul)lic works for the Hydraulic Construction Com- 
pany of A'laine, he acting as foreman for the companv : and Robert Enoch, 
who died in infancy. 

Air. Davis was nclih' endowed with a strong and xii^orons mind ami. 
altliough suffering for fixe weeks with la grippe, he ne\er lost the brightness 
of his mind nor his cheerful disposition until tlie last l)reatli had left his 
tired and weakened body and his soul liad ])assecl on to a Ijetter existence. 
He believed in the fatherhood of God and the l)rolherliood of man and his 
religion was the (iolden Rule. He was kind-hearted and generous and. as 
was once said at the graxe of a noble .\merican, bx' his ox\n lirother: "Were 
every one for whom he did some loving service to bring a blossom to his 
graxe. he would slee]j tonight beneath a wilderness of fioxvers." 

Air. Davis passed away from earthly scenes, xvitli his dexoted xvife and 
children at his bedside. He xvas buried in Thomas cemeterv, on Sunday 
afternoon, by his comrade in arms of Shiloh Post No. 49, drand .Army of 
the Republic, of xvhich he was one of the few remaining charter members. 
His life-long friend. Rev. John \\'. Parrett, preached his funeral sermon, 
being assisted by Revs. J- S. Brown and E. A'T. Freeman. 

, To have been a fearless editor in this commonxvealth for two score 
years, and take part in the settling of great questions such as grew out of 
the Civil war, to stand for the right as he understood the right, meant force 
of character such as fexv men possess, but this he performed manfully and 
xvell to the last editorial he ever penned. Tt is befitting in closing this memoir 
of a truly prominent and good man. to quote the resolutions passed by the 



PARKE AND \'ERMII,l.lOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 5I5 

Jiuliaiia Rcpulilii'an l'".(liturial Association which convened al hKhauapolis in 
1909, whicii read as follows; 

"Samuel I>. Davis, one of the i^ioneer nienilKTS of the Indiana Republi- 
can liditorial Association, and after an experience of more than forlv years 
in the newspaper business, beinp; the editor of the Hoosirr Slate, pulilished 
at Newport. Indiana, died at his home April 2, 1908. Tie was an actix'C, 
energetic and enthusiaslic ni;ui. though an invalid as a result of injuries re- 
ceix'ed while a soldier in tlie Civil war. lie was a good citizen, a fcirceful 
writer and lived a life consistent with good citizenship; therefore, be it 

■'Resolved, that we cherish his meniorv ;ind have a high appreciation of 
his ability as a newspa])er man. one wlm cxpi'essed his con\'ictii)ns in words in 
which there was no guile, and we herebv express i^nr regrets over the loss of 
so valuable a member as he. 

"Resolved, that these resolutions he spread upon the minutes i>f this 
association and that a co]i\- be furnished the f.amilv nf the bereaved." 



HENR^' ADA.VrSON. 



A profound professional knowledge, .apt intellectual training and the 
possession and utilization of the attributes and characteristics essential to 
success, have made Henry Adamson eminent in his chosen calling, and he' 
has long ranked among the enterprising and successful lawyers in a com- 
munity noted for the high order of its legal talent, while at the same time 
he has won the confidence and esteem of the peojjle of X'ermillion county 
and vicinity for his upright life and genial disposition, and he is regarded 
as one of the most promising of our younger attorneys. 

Mr. Adamson was born at Fontanette. Vigo countv, Indiana. Septem- 
ber 21, 1885. He is a son of Elijah H. and Mary B. (Porter) .Adamson. 
the father born November 5. 1849, in Indiana, and is now residing in Clin- 
ton; the mother was born .August 11. 1854, in Illinois: she. too, is still living. 
These parents were married Jnly 11. 1873. Elijah Adamson has devoted 
his life to mecbanic;d engineering and.h.as worked at a number of different 
mines. His family consisted of four children, three of whom are still living, 
namely: Louise married Carl Balmer. who is the owner of a .garage in 
Clinton; Maude is at home; Henry, of this review ; and John, who was the 
eldest child, is deceased. 

Henrj- Adamson received his early education in the common .schools. 



5l6 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES^ INDIANA. 

from which he was graduated in 1903. then entered the Indiana Law School, 
where he made rapid progress, and he was admitted to the bar in 1904. He 
began the practice of his profession at Chnton with D. C. Johnson, under 
the firm name of Johnson & Adamson, which was continued witli much suc- 
cess for a period of five years,' being dissolved in the spring of 1909, Mr. 
Adamson opening an office in Ma}- of that year by himself and has con- 
tinued to practice alone, his clientele e\er growing until he has become one 
of the leading members of the local bar among the younger set of lawyers. 
A bright future is predicted for him, for he keeps well abreast of the times 
in all that pertains to his chosen vocation and possesses by nature the quali- 
ties that go to make t*he successful lawyer. 

Mr. Adamson was married on October 4. 1906, to Edna M. Crane, 
daughter of James Crane, a well known Clinton druggist. She was born 
January 28. 1885, in \^ermillion county. Indiana. Her mother was known 
in her maidenhood as Mary B. Odell. Mrs. Adamson grew to womanhood 
in her native community and received a good education in the local schools. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Adamson have been born three children, namely : James 
Henry, born January 29. 1908; Lloyd Carlton. July 31. 1909, and Mary 
Elizabeth, born October 12, 1912. 

Fraternally. Mr. Adamson belongs to the Masonic order at Clinton, 
and the P>ene\'o'ent and Protective Order of Elks at Terre Haute. He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and politically he is a Republi- 
can and is acti\e in local party affairs. He has been city attorney of Clinton 
for two years, also attorney for \'ermillion county for two years. serA'ing in 
each capacity in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the 
eminent satisfaction of all concerned. 



HAROLD A. HEXDERSOX. 

The bar of Parke county has an able representative in the person of 
Harold A. Henderson, junior member of the widely known firm of Hunt & 
Henderson, of Rockville. While yet young in years he has made his in- 
fluence felt in his town and county and has shown what determination, per- 
sistency and energy can accomplish in early life. and. judging from his past 
splendid record, the future must necessarily hold much of good and promise 
in store for him. 

Mr. Henderson was born at A^incennes. Indiana. December 3. 1880. 
He is the son of George B. and Ella (Adams) Henderson, both natives of 



PARKE A.\n NKK.MU.T.ION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 317 

Indiana, tlic fallier of Knox connt\- ami tlio nidlhcr of I'arke oountv. TIk-v 
grew to maturity, were educated and married in llieir native state and liere 
spent their lives, both being now deceased. The Hendersons are of Scotch- 
Irish ancestry, fleorgc 11 Henderson was a farmer and he moved to Parke 
county when his son Harold A. was one year old, locating in Washington 
township, where he estalilislied a gooil lu)me, developed a prodticti\e farm 
and continued to reside there until his death, August ,^o, lyio. He took an 
interest in public affairs and was trustee of Washington township tor a 
period of four years. Religiously, he was a Presbyterian, and an .active 
worker in the' lieth.-uiy Presbyterian chtu'ch, of which he was a member. 
During the Civil war he was a prixate in Coni])any 1, Thirty-first Indiana 
\ olunteer Infantry, being (he youngest mcinbcr of his company, but he per- 
formed his duty while at the front with as much courage and gallantry as 
any veteran in his company and regiment. Politically, he was a stanch Re- 
publican. The mother of the subject of this sketch died on November i8, 
1896. They were the ])arents of two children, Harold A. and Dw iglit J., 
who lives in Plorton, Kansas, ^\•he^e he is >u]3erinlcndeui of the government 
Indian school, 

Harold A. Henderson grew tn niauhoiul on his father's farm and there 
assisted with the general work of the farm. He recei\ed his primary edu- 
cation in the countrv schools and at the academy al P)looniingdale, ,uiil com- 
pleted his junior year at the Valpaiaiso law school. He studied law in the 
office of Puett & McFaddin, and was, in August, 1903, admitted to the bar. 
When but a youth he was an active w'orker in public affairs and, in 1906. 
when twenty-fne vears old, lie was elected auditor of Parke county, the 
duties of which office he discharged for a period of four, years in a manner 
that reflected credit upon iiimself. He has always been loyal to the tenets 
of the Republican party. 

On Januarv i, 191 1, Mr. Henderson formed a partnership with Klwood 
Plunt in the practice of law in Rockville and he has forged ahead until he 
has taken his place among the leaders of the local bar and, with Mr. Hunt, 
enjoys a large and constantly growing business. 

Mr. Hendersiiu was married to Sarah Katherine Strouse, daughter of 
Isaac R. and Juliet \'. Strouse. their wedding occurring on June u, 1907. 
Mrs, Henderson, who was a woman of charming personality, and who pos- 
sessed a brilliant intellect, died on \])ril j8, 191 j, leaving one child, John 
Jacob Henderson. 

Mr. Hender.son has probably as large an aopiaintance throughout I'arke 
countv as anv other citizen. Possessed of an aggressive nature .and w ith a 



5l8 PARKE AND VERMII.LIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

natural aptitude for polilics. he is regarded as one of tlie strong leaders of 
the Republican party in Parke county. He has a splendid and loyal follow- 
ing. He is well acc]uainted o\er the fifth congressional district and has 
many warm friends throughout the state, and is a familiar figure at the 
county and district conventions of his party. Mr. Henderson gives the same 
energy in behalf of his clients and is possessed of a strong determination. 
He is known as a good fighter in court as well as politics. Mr. Henderson 
is a man of wide reading and information upon historical, political and 
economic topics. He has the qualities of a clear and impressive speaker, 
and on occasions displays genuine elociuence. Although his aggressive dis- 
position has naturally created enemies, withal he has a host of loyal friends 
that always have stayed stanch and true. Mr. Henderson regards loyalty in 
friendship as one of the cardinal principles. 



ELWOOD HUNT. 



Selecting the law as his prgfession, Elwood Hunt, of Rockville, In- 
diana, has by his devotion to business made himself what he is today, a 
thorough lawyer of the "Old School." He is a safe counsellor and one of 
the leading reliable attorneys of the Rockville bar, of which he is one of the 
oldest and most highly honored members. He has had a business and pro- 
fessional experience of nearly fifty years and, being of a studious nature and 
temperate habits and having kept well abreast of the times in all tliat per- 
tains to his \'Ocation, is still aclixely engaged in the practice. He has a judi- 
cial bent of mind and is so well bedded in the basic princijiles of the law that 
his ready and correct conclusions come as if by intuition. He is a logical 
pleader and strongest when discussing the legal phases of his case and be- 
cause of these traits has often been called upon to act as special judge in 
his home and other counties. He has been solicited to run, but has never 
been a candidate for a judicial office. He has ever been a man of patriotic 
impulses and ready to assist in any forw ard movement for the general good 
of his country and he is one of the honored veterans of the war of the Re- 
bellion, having while \-et a mere bov fought gallantly for the ]ierpetuation 
of the Union. 

Mr. Hunt was born in Sugar Creek township, Parke county. Indiana. 
April II, 1844. His parents were William and Xancy (McMasters) Hunt. 
The father was a native of Guilford county. North Carolina, while the 
mother was a natixe of Randolph countw that state, and there tiiey spent 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 519 

iheir earlier years. The faniil_\- is of Eiif^lish and Seotch deseeiU. The 
paternal "grandfather, Zinn-i Hunt, was also a native of .Vorth Carolina, 
from which state he came o\erland to Parke couHty, Indiana, among the 
Hrst settlers and here began life in a typical ])ioneer fashion, locating on 
Mill creek, in Sugar Creek town.ship. Grandfather .Mc.Masters was also a 
native of North Carolina and one of the early settlers of I'arke county, who 
located on Sugar creek, in Penn township. They were both farmers and 
took an active interest in the affairs of their neighborhoods. The father of 
the subject devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, where he became a sub- 
stantial and well known citizen. He was an active member of the United 
Brethren church., later joining the Methodist church and he was especially 
interested in school work, doing much for the betterment of schools in his 
township and he assisted in building one of the first school houses in that 
townshi]), which building was of logs. He figured i)romincntly in the early 
development of the material, civic and moral life of Parke count)-, especially 
Sugar Creek townshii). His death occurred in 1880. at the age of sixty- 
nine. His widow surviving twenty-nine years longer, reached the ad\anced 
age of ninety, passing away in 1909. They were the parents of ten children, 
five of whom are living at this writing, namely : Mrs. J. N. McCampbell. 
of Rockville; Dr. C. E. Hunt, of Eldorado, Kansas; Mrs. Ermina Jones, of 
Los Angeles, California; Mrs. 'Slary O. Mehaffe\-. of Klamath T'"alls. Ore- 
gon, and Elwood, of this sketch. 

lilwood Hunt grew to manhood on the home farm in Sugar Creek town- 
ship, where he assisted with the general work and attended the common 
schools of that townshi]). He enlisted in the Eederal army .September i, 
1862, when he was eighteen years old, becoming a member of Company .\, 
Eighty-fifth Indiana X'oUinteer Infantry, commanded by Col. John P. Baird, 
and he served faithfully until in June. 18^)3, when he was discharged on ac- 
count of a gunshot wound, received in the liattle of Thompson's Station. 
Tennessee. March 3. 1863. Returning home from the army, Mr. Hunt at- 
tended Bloomingdale and Waveland .\cademies and .\sbiny (now i)c Pauw ) 
Uni\-ersity. 

He began life for himself by teaching school, teaching three terms in 
Indiana and one in Illinois. He was a successful teacher, but he turned his 
attention to the law. having a natural bent in that direction, and coming to 
Rockville on August i. 1868. he resumed the .study of law in the ofifice of 
James T. Johnson. In the fall of that year he was appointed deputy clerk 
of the circuit court of Parke county, in which capacity- he served for two 
years and in 1870 was elected recorder of such county for a term of four 



520 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

years. He declined a re-election in order to devote his attention to the prac- 
tice of law. which he has continued with ever-growing success until the pres- 
ent time. enio}-ing a libe4-al patronage and ranking as one of the leaders of 
the bar in his native county, maintaining a busy ofifice in Rockville and being 
now the senior member of the well known and active firm of Hunt & Hen- 
derson. 

yir. Hunt was married in Rockville, August i8. 1870, to Emma Har- 
greaves, who was born in Halifax, England, April 2. 1854. She was the 
daughter of Henrv and Hannah fFarrar) Hargreaves. both natives of Eng- 
land, the father having been born at Huddersfield and the mother at Hali- 
fax. He died in Rockville in 1900 and she in 10)03. Nine children have 
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Hunt, namely: Eeta. wife of John T. 
^^'alker, of Rockville, Indiana: .\da, deceased: (31a, wife of Henry H. Sim- 
ler, of New York City; Jewell, wife of Frank E. Strouse, of Rockville: Neil, 
wife of Daniel D. Jones, of Indianapolis; Edna, deceased: Harry H.. of 
Rockville; Allen E., deceased, and W'illiani L.. of Rockville. 

Mr. Hunt and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of 
Rockville and he belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. 

Mr. Hunt was formerly a Republican and activel\- affiliated with that 
party for about twenty years after the war, when he became dissatisfied with 
its money and tarifif policies and since i8f)fi has affiliated with the Bryan 
element of the Democratic party. ha\-ing supported \\'oodrow Wilson for 
President. He is not, however, bound to any political party and exercises 
the privilege of voting for the men and measures of his choice without re- 
gard to party or past affiliations. 



JOHN S. McEADDIN. 

A man who has all the qualities wliicli go to the making of the desirable 
and conscientious member of the community is John S. ^IcFaddin, of Rock- 
ville. He is known to be a man of high attainments and practical abilitv as 
a lawyer, and as one who has achieved success in his profession because he 
has worked for it persistently and in channels of honest endeavor. His ])res- 
tige at the bar of Parke county .stands in exidence of his abilitv and like- 
wise serves as a voucher for intrinsic worth of character. He has used his 
intellect to the best purpose, has directed his energies along legitimate 
courses, and his career has been based upon the wise assumption that nothing 



PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 52I 

save indu.str\ . i)ei".se\'eraiicc. sturdy integrity and fidelity to duty will lead to 
success. 

Mr. McFaddin was born in Roekville. Indiana, May _'i, i8')y. Ik- is a 
scion of one of our worthiest old pioneer families, being a son of Isaac and 
Ruth /Curl) (Dennian) IMcFaddin, the father a native of Lexington, Kock- 
ford county, Virginia, and the mother was born in Parke county, Indiana, of 
North Carolina stock. Isaac McFaddin was a carpenter and contractor and 
he came to Parke county in the fall of 1865. ^'^^ '''^'' pre\iously li\ed in 
the state of Arkansas and during the Civil war served from that state in the 
Confederate army. He married in 1868. lie is still li\ing in Roekville. 
making his home with the subject, John S. McFaddin, being advanced in 
years, having celebrated his eighty-second birthday, March 14, 1912. He 
was in his prime one of the leading house contractors in Parke county, erect- 
ing many of the buildings in and around Roekville, and was actively identi- 
fied with the upbuilding of this locality in its history of forty years ago. He 
is oiie of the oldest Odd Fellows in Indiana, having lieen a member for 
sixty-one years. The mother of the subject had previously married Isaac 
Denman, whose father was a prominent preacher. She had one son, Isaac 
W. Denman, an insurance agent of Marshall, Parke count}-, by her first mar- 
riage. The father of the .subject had also lieen previously married, his first 
wife having been Fsther Fast, which union resulted in the l)irth of one child, 
Mrs. Alice Berry, of Lexington, Virginia. The death of Mrs. Isaac Mc- 
Faddin occurred on Jiuie 17. 188 1. 

John S. McFaddin grew to manhood in his native town, and he received 
his earlv educational training in the local public schools, being graduated 
from the Roekville high school I\Iay 7. 1887. He then entered Wabash 
College at Craw fordsville, Indiana, from which institution he was graduated 
with the class of June 17. 1891, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science, 
and a few years ago that college honored Mr. McFaddin by conferring u])on 
him the degree of Master of .'\rts. 

Early in life he decided upon a legal career and he bent every effort to 
properlv fit himself for the same, and was admitted to the bar in h'ebruary, 
1892, and at once began practice. He read law with Samuel D. Puett dur- 
ing and after his college days and formed a partnershiji with him under the 
firm name of Puett. .\dams & McFaddin on January i, 189^ This firm 
became Puett & McFaddin on January i, 1895, Mr. .\dams having retired. 
The last mentioned firm continued until Mr. Puett's death, in May, 1907, 
and on June loth of that year Mr. McFaddin formed a partnershij) with 
Howard Maxwell, which has enntinued to the ])resent time and is one of the 



522 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

best known and busiest firms in \ve>tern Indiana, as well as one of the most 
successful. 

Mr. McFaddin was county attorney from 1897 to 1900. was a member 
of the school board for seven years, and is now president of the board, 
holding the present appointment from the Republican town board. He was 
his party's candidate for prosecuting attorne\- in 1896 and carried the county, 
which is strongly Republican, liy five votes. He was nominated for judge 
in 1904 and lost his home county b\- only one vote, this being the forty- 
seventh judicial circuit. In August, 1909. Judge G. Rheub_\- resigned and 
Governor Marshall offered ^^Ir. ^IcFaddin the appointment, which he de- 
clined. As a public servant he has e\er been faithful and energetic, dis- 
charging his duties in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself 
and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned, irrespective of party align- 
ment. He has always been an uncompromising Democrat and is a potent 
factor in local party affairs. He was a delegate to the Democratic national 
convention at Baltimore in 1912, and in the three preceding state conven- 
tions was a member of t!:e committee on resolutions and helped make the 
platforms. 

The domestic life of Mr. McFaddin began on January 15, 1896. when 
he was united in marriage to Cora A. Mehurien, of Bloomingdale, Parke 
county. Indiana, where her people have long been well known and highly 
esteemed. She is a lady of manv commendable attril)utes and is po]iular 
with a wide circle of friends. This union has been graced by the birth of 
four children, namely: John M., born July 31. 1897: Hugh and Howard, 
twins, born May 14, 1900; Martha Jean, born August 23, 1904. 

Fraternally, Mr. ^IcFaddin belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Im- 
proved Order of Red Men, the encampment of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, the iNIodern Woodmen, also the Masonic order, having at- 
tained the thirty-second degree in the same, and he also holds membership 
in the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a Pres- 
byterian by affiliation and ancestry. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi 
at Wabash College. He is one of the charter members of the Shakespeare 
Club, a literary club of Rockville. which was organized twenty years ago. 

Mr. McFaddin has taken a very active interest in the local schools and 
was a member of the board when the present excellent high school building 
was erected. He was f(ir years a member of the state executive committee 
of the Democratic party. He has taken an acti\e interest in having gravel 
roads built in Rockville and Parke county. He is deserving of the title of 
the most progressive citizen of Rockville and his aid has ever been readily 



PARKE AM) \HK.M11.I.IUN COUXTIES, INDIANA. ^2^ 

extended in the furtherance of any movement haxinj^ as its object tiie up- 
building of the city and county in any way. As a lawyer he easily stan<ls in 
the front rank, being profoundly versed in the Ixisic principles ui juris[)ru- 
dence, has remained a profound student of all phases of his profession, kept 
advised on the newest statutes of his state and he lakes inhnile pains in the 
preparation of cases, ahvays looking after the interests of his clients as he 
would his own, and never goes into court without being fully prepared. He 
is a painstaking, persistent and cautious advocate and l>efore the court or a 
jury he is logical, convincing, always much in earnest, and in iileading an 
important case he is not infre<|uentlv truly eloc|ucnt. Judging fnini the past 
successes and honors that have come to him, the future augurs much of 
promise, both in a professional and political way, for him. He came up from 
the ranks, is one of the common people, has known what hard work meant 
all his life, for when young he assisted his father as a carpenter, and vv hen a 
boy worked on the Rockx'illc Eagle, for verv little remuneration : but he has 
always been willing to do anything honorable in order to learn and to ad- 
vance himself. He has Iseen very successful in a business wav and is the 
owner of a finely improved and \a]ual)le farm of two hundred and eighty 
acres three miles southeast of Rockville. He is president of the Parke 
Hotel Company, and is one of the trustees of the handsome new npera liDUse 
at Rockville. 



JAMES -M. WHITTIXCTOX. 

The greater number of the citizens of Indiana are farmers and tillers 
of the soil. The state is one of the foremost farming states in the I'nion, 
and its farmers are among the most progressive. To their enterprise and 
spirit, as well as the excellent natural advantages of soil and climate, is due 
the high position which their state holds. Among the farmers of I'arke 
county w ho have done much along scientific lines to increase production and 
fertility, and whose efforts have brought to them material success, is James 
M. Whittington, a voung man, but one of the most prominent farmers of 
his community, the worthy representative of a family all of whose memliers 
are respected. 

James M. Whitlingtun was born in Illinois on May J^. iSjj. the son 
of Joshua I.. ;ind Cynthia iv (Alexander) Whittington. Joshua L. Whit- 
tington was born in Kentucky and his wife is a native of West \'irginia. 
\A'hen about twenty years old. Joshua Whittington came to Indiana and 



524 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

began farming. Later he remo\ed to Illinois, still following farming, but 
after a time returned to Parke county, Indiana. In 1900 he moved to a 
farm near Ca^'uga. Indiana, where he now resides. Five of his seven chil- 
dren are now living. Joshua Whittington is a man of strong and sturdy 
character, who has merited the respect of his neighbors in whate\er com- 
munity he has lived. 

James M. \\'hittington attended the common schools in Illinois, and 
returned with his parents to Parke county. Indiana. He early took up farm- 
ing, and has always been greatly interested in the practical aspects of mak- 
ing it pa\' as much as possible for the labor applied and money invested. In 
1901 he was married to Alma Williams, the daughter of Daniel C. and 
, Armilda ((irimes) Williams, her father lieing one of the old and esteemed 
veterans of the Civil war and a large landholder in this count}-. To this 
marriage were born three children, Donald, Carrie and Dwight. who, bright 
and active, make life happv for their iiarents. Mr. \Vhittington has not 
taken a prominent part in politics and has ne\-er cared to hold public office. 
In religion he is a Baptist and takes part in all church activities. He is a 
man well liked by his neighbors and one who is depended upon as alwavs 
doing his full share in e\'ery community enterprise. 



WILLIAM A. BOW'SHliR. 

One of the most prominent men in Liberty township, Parke count)', 
Indiana, is William A. Bowsher, who is a representati\e of one of the fine 
old families who came to this state when the country was in its natural un- 
tamed condition, and ha\-e l)uilt up not onl\- their own hnuies, but cities, and 
made Indiana one of the best states in the L'nion. These men introduced 
agriculture on a small scale, but their work was chiefly one of clearing the 
ground and making homes. Their sons gave more attention to the farms, 
and cultivation of the ground became more extensive. The next generation 
extended the holdings, and introduced some new methods, and these who 
now hold the ground have made farming a science, built modern homes on 
their land, and are indeed kings of the soil, descended from a royal line. 

William A. Bowsher's great-grandfather, Jacob Bowsher, came from 
Ohio to this state, when it was first opened up, and faced all the trials and 
hardships of the new country. His son, Josejjh Bowsher, was a native of 
Parke county and did his work building up the countr\- about the ^Volfe 
])lace. Joseph Bowsher was the father of John X., who was Ixirn in Reserve 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 525 

township, Parke county. He married Margaret Huxford, and the\' were the 
parents of William A. Bowsher. 

William .\. Bowsher was liorn October 20, 1875. in l.ibertv Unvnship. 
Parke county, Indiana. He and his two sisters, Margaret and Miranda, 
and his brother, Joseph, lived a happy life on the old farm, and incidentallx' 
learned many lessons in their work, in addition to the education received 
from the common schools and at Bloomingdale Academy. He took up 
farinint'; after tinishing schdul, and is still working on his farm in Liberty 
township. On October 14, 1897, he marrieil Clare E. Kitchen, the daugh- 
ter of (leorge and Margaret Kitchen. They were natives of Ohio, having 
come to Indiana, where they lived in Parke county for a short time, and re- 
turning to Ohio, where they now reside. William A. and Clare Bowsher 
have one child, W. Ward Bowsher. who is living at home. 

As he now has thirty acres of fine bottom land, Mr. ilowshur is still 
engaged in mixed farming. He has been quite successful and owns some of 
the most highly cultivated land in I'arke county. His interests, however, 
are not limited to his farm, and he has given liberally of his time and at- 
tention in the afifairs of his communitx'. Mr. Bowsher is well known in the 
countr\- around Lil)ertv townshi).) for his honesty and integrity and is highly 
respected by his friends and neighbors. He held a jjosition on the advisory 
board for four years, and his voice is still 'influential in all public enterprises. 
Mr. Bowsher is young, progressive and energetic, and is an asset in the 
public welfare of Parke county. 1 le is a member of the Free and .\ccepted 
Masons, Lodge No. 559, at Sxlvania. and is one of the most active members 
in that place. His influence will undoubtedly make an unmistakable imjires- 
sion on the life of his township and county. 



WILLIAM B. CILLUM. 

One of the most prominent tigures in the history of Parke cotuUy. In- 
diana, is William I!, (iillum, who has been looked up in in that part of !u- 
diana as a man of sound judgment and un])rejudiced justice. He has been 
very successful and retired from business several years ago, and now lives 
in the village of Sylvania in Liberty township. 

Mr. (nlluni was Imrn near 1 larxcysburg. Fountain county, June 27,. 
1847, •'"■'f^^ 's the son of Oslxsrn and Flmmaline (Sowers) (iillum. His 
father was a native of North Carolina, and came to this state when it was 



526 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Still young, settling in Orange county. Later he moved to Fountain county, 
where he bought a farm and lived there the rest of his days. He had eight 
children, five of whom arc still living. William B. Gillum spent his early 
life on his father's farm, attending the common schools in l<"ountain county, 
and later the Eloomingdale Academy for two terms. After leaving the 
academy he taught school for three years. The life of a teacher did not 
appeal to Mr. Gillum as being active enough, and he soon returned to Syl- 
vania, Parke count}-, and entered the general merchandise business in 1873. 
He was very successful in his business career, being well known for his 
honestv and integrity, and in his case ^'irtue reaped her reward. In 1908, 
he retired h-oni business, at the age of si.xty. 

William B. Gillum was married in 1874 to Jennie Richardson, the 
daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Richardson, of Vermillion county, In- 
diana, who came from Pennsylvania to this state when the country was 
only thinly settled. William B. and Jennie (lilluni had two children, both 
of whom are still living. Chloe A. was married to C. C. Jackson, who is 
prominent as commisarius for the Arkadelphia Lumber Company and they 
live at Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Harry Gaston is living in Sylvania, Indiana, 
and is attending Henderson Brown College at .\rkadelphia, Arkansas. Mr. 
Gillum's first wife died in igo2. at the age of forty-five vears. He was mar- 
ried again, in Decemljcr, 1903. to Laura Drummond Laughlin, daughter of 
Joseph \\'. and Mar\- ( Cummings) Drummond. Mr. Drummond was a 
natix-e of Ohio and Mrs. Drummond was a native of ^'irginia. 

Mr. Gillum's activities have not been confined to his own interests, for 
he has taken ])art in every mo\ement for the common good in that part of 
the country for almost half a century and has serxed the community in many 
ways. For many years he was a notary public. He served as justice of the 
peace for one term, four years, and everv case that came before him recei\ed 
his careful attention, gaining for him the confidence and good will of law- 
abiding citizens. Mr. Gillum became very popular in Lil^erty township and 
held the position of township trustee for two terms. He is a Republican, 
and has not only considered it his duty to serve the community when he has 
held some particular office, but has given his efforts to every good cause 
whicli has needed an energetic and earnest partisan. . 

Although Mr. Gillum has retired from active business, he is keenly 
alive to all of the movements of the day. and his judgment is sought and his 
advice followed by many who know that he has made a success in his own 
life, and helped others by a kind heart, restrained and governed only by a 
just and unprejudiced attitude toward his friends and neighbors. 



PARKE AND VERMIIJ.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 527 

JOHN S. PICKARD. 

Among the few men of today who hve in Parke county, Indiana, who 
can boast of active service in the Ci\il war is John S. Pickard, of Sugar 
Creek township, who has long been one of the prominent men in that dis- 
trict, esteemed for his public service in times of peace, as well as in those 
bloody four years upon which our country still looks with sorrow. He is 
one of the most successful farmers in that part of the country and has also 
found time to gi\e to the public, when they have called upon him. 

John S. Pickard was born in Libert}- township, Parke count}-. Indiana. 
July 30, 1831. His father was Isaac \V. and his mother Sarah (i. (l^plilin) 
Pickard. They were both born in North Carolina, and came to this state in 
1829. taking u]) farming and fullowing t!ii> life uiuil their death, lie was 
an ordained minister df the L'niteil Brethren church antl une of the most 
active pioneer preachers of this section of the state. They had eleven chil- 
dren: Eliza J. is dead; .\manda M. was the third child: Sarah C. the 
fourth: Semira Ann is dead: William was tiie sixth child: Samantha is 
dead: then followed .Mary !"'lmira. Isaac A.. Dririnda .M.. and .Martha F... 
who is dead. 

John S. Pickard is the second child. He was educated in the common 
schools of Indiaria, spending his \acations working on the farm and building- 
up a physique which withstood even tiie strain of the war. As soon as he 
finished school Mr. Pickard took uj) farming and vvas at the plow when 
called for the service to the Union in 1861. He enlisted in Comjjany K. 
Forty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Aiuix of the Cimiberland. .Among 
the engagements in which he took part, the first was the battle of Helena, 
the last the battle of Mark's .Mills, where the regiment was captured. He 
was mustered out in October. 1864, after faithful .and active .service, and 
went home again like so many of our heroes to take u]) farniing again. 

In 1854 John S. Pickard married Rosabell Wilkins. the daughter of 
George and Ic\- ( Thomas ) Wilkins, who were early settlers in Parke county. 
coming here in 1828 and settling on a farm. Mrs. Pickard died in May. 
1907. at the age of seventv years. They had six children, .\dora. Isaac W.. 
Icy and John S. are still living; Michael H. and Alice R. Pickard are dead. 
Mr. Pickard has always been very popular in his community, and for eight 
years he held the position of township assessor of Sugar Creek township, 
his honesty, sterling integrity, justice and industry being recognized by all 
of his friends and neighbors. Mr. Pickard is a member of the Free and 
Accepted Masons at Sylvania. Indiana, and is a tnember of the Universajist 



526 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

church. He has been a faithful patriot, an industriuu.s citizen and an hon- 
est public servant in each position, giving the pubhc the benetit of his cool- 
headed justice and untiring endeavors in every righteous cause. He is an 
example for the }Outh of Parke county and they may well point to him as a 
man whose being has been justified by his works. 



THE PARKE COUNTY TBIES. 



One of the progressive and wide-awake county newspapers of western 
Indiana which has attained a high rank is The Parke County Times, pub- 
lished by F. L. and C. L. Sherrill, both of 
whom are natives of New York state, C. L. 
Sherrill ha\ing been born at Sandy Hill, 
w here the Sherrill family was long, well and 
fa\orably known. His wife, known as F. 
L. .Sherrill in the firm, was born at Oswego, 
Xew York. Air. and Mrs. Sherrill came to 
Rock\-ille. Parke county, Indiana, in .\pril, 
igo8. and purchased TJic , Parke County 
Times. This i)a])er, how e\'er, at that time, 
was published as Progressirc Country Life, 
a sixteen-page paper devoted mainly to agri- 
culture. The iHiblication was changed to 
tlie present title in iQOg. and made a six- 
column eight-page i)aper. The paper was 
established ten years ago and has been a 
power for the de\elopment of this locality ever since, especially since the new 
managem&nt assumed control. It is one of the best papers of its kind ever 
published in Indiana. It is a weekly local paper, championing the ])rinciples 
of the Republican ])artv, and advocating all kinds of impro\ements for the 
general good of the people of Parke and surrounding counties, and, needless 
to add, that it has accomplished much in this direction. The present owners 
have greatly improved its mechanical appearance, ha\'ing strengthened its edi- 
torial columns and made it newsier and a more valuable advertising medium. 
Its circulation is increasing rapidly, is the largest in the cntmty and it is to 
be seen by every fireside in this locality. 

In connection with the regular publishing of the pa])er. there is main- 




PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES^ INDL\NA. 529 

tained a most excellent and up-to-date job printing office, the motto of which 
is prompt ser\-ice and high grade work, ami they are well e(|iiip])e(l in e\ery 
respect tor this line of work, in wiiich clei)artment also they are well patron- 
ized, and always give honest and satisfactory results. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sherrill understand well the various jihases of newspaper 
work ; they are versatile, clever, and conduct a modern newspaper. They 
have made many friends since coming to Parke countw are regarded as 
among Rock\ille"s best citizens, and they arc making their paper a factor for 
good in their locality. 



DANIEL C. WILLIAMS. 

Fifty years ago the flower of the young men of this country enlisted 
in her armies to fight the battle for liberty and union; freely they ofTered 
their lives a sacrifice to her good. Not from all of them did she demand this 
last measure of de\otion. for many of them were allowed to return to her 
fields and shops and factories and offices, there to ser\e her by nobly per- 
fermii g the duties of peace. Among the number so man\- \ears ago laid 
their \oung manhood upon the altar of devotion to their country and whom 
she returned to their homes where the lessons of patriotism learned in war"s 
experience might be translated into peaceful endea\or. was Daniel C. Will- 
iams, and but few of those who went out with him to the front have been 
spared so long as he. to aid in and to witness their country's recent marvel- 
ous growth and de\elopment. 

Daniel C. Williams was IjDrn in Ross count). ()hii). in 11X40, the si_)n nf 
Urias and Isabel Williams. In 1842. when he was but two years old. his 
parents moved from Ross county to what was then one of the newer por- 
tions of Indiana, settling near Rockville. in Parke county. Indiana, where 
Urias Williams created a farm out of the wilderness and spent the remainder 
of his life, being one of the respected ami inllucntial men of his time. l);uiiel 
C. Williams attended the common schools, and when his schooling was 
finished began to work for neighboring farmers. In 1862 he enlisted in 
Company A. Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. His regiment be- 
came a part of the Armv of the Cumberland, and took part in Sherman's 
famous march to the sea. The regiment then w'ent north with Ceneral 
Sherman to Washington, and was there mustered out on June i_'. iS'>5- Mr. 
Williams passed through three years of hard campaigning, and through it 
all bore himself as a soldier should, whatever the occasion. .\l the close of 

(34) 



530 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

the \\ ar he again took up farming, which he has since followed and in which 
he has been successful. 

In August, 1867, Daniel C. Williams was married to Nancy J. Dowdell, 
and to them were born two sons, Otto D. and Delbert P. His second mar- 
riage was in July. 1880. to Armilda Grimes, to which union were b(jrn three 
children. Alma, Edna and Carl. Mr. Williams' religious affiliations are with 
the Methodist church. For seventy years he has been a resident of Parke 
county, and has seen his community grow from a pioneer settlement to one 
of the best improved farming districts in tlie country. Throughout this 
time he has fully taken the part he was able to take in this development, and he 
has always been devoted to the good of the community. Mr. Williams is a 
member of Altoona Post, Grand Army of the Republic, whose members are 
now becoming few in number. Father Time having claimed the most of 
them for his own. 



AOUILLA LAVERTY. 

The name of Aquilla Laverty is well remembered 1)\- the citizens of the 
Parke county community in which he spent the greater portion of his life 
and became one of its leading men in every respect. He was born to no 
fortune save the heritage of strong character ; by his own efforts he accumu- 
lated a large amount of property, and by his interest in the welfare of all those 
who were his neighbors he l)ecame influential with an influence based upon true 
brotherly feeling for mankind. He did not spare himself when his country 
needed men in war, but cheerfully offered his life, and though his country 
returned it to him. and did not demand it on the field of battle, he spent his 
remaining years no less truly in her service. 

Aquilla Laverty was born in I^arke county, Indiana, on October 3, 1822, 
and departed from this life on November 30, 1896, aged seventy-four. He 
was the son of James and Margaret ( Guffey) Laverty. James Lrwerty was 
a native of Pennsylvania, who removed to Kentucky, and later tn Ohio, in 
which state he assisted in erecting the first buildings of the city of Columbus. 
In the winter of 1817-18 he came by wagon to Parke county. Indiana, where 
his brothers, John and Samuel, had preceded him, and settled on sixty acres 
of land. Besides James and his brothers mentioned, his remaining fi\e 
brothers and sisters. Alexander, Polly. Mary, Rachel and Margaret, all 
moved I0 Indiana near the same time. Tames Lavertv served in the \\ar of 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 53 1 

i8i2. He was twice married, and by his first marriage was the father of 
nine children: Jane, who married William Brockwa}'; Cynthia, who married 
Thomas Melvin, and, after his death, Joshua Fisher; Samuel, who died at 
I'owder River, Oregon ; John, accidentally killed at the raising of a school 
house in 1832; Mary, who married John Bronson, and later James McNutl ; 
Indiana, the wife of Hiram Brockway; Lucy A., Aquilla, and Alexander, 
who died in 1823. The mother of these children passed away in 1851, and 
afterwards James La\erty married Mrs. Saracida Woods, nee Luster, to 
which union were born two children, James, of Kansas, and Emily, Mrs. 
Albert Griffin. Margaret Guffey was a descendant of the old Scotch Guffey 
clan. She was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Captain Henry and 
Margaret (McDowell) Guffey. Captain Henry won his title in the war 
of 1812. He was killed by Indians in ambush while plowing on his farm 
with his gun strapped to his plow. 

Aquilla Laverty attended the early loghouse schools, and when nine- 
teen began to work by the month for ten dollars per month. He then farmed 
on rented land, saved some money, with one hundred dollars w ent to Galena, 
Illinois, and by prospecting in lead mines multiplied his money many times, 
then began building flatboats to run to New Orleans, making the iri]) nine- 
teen times. In 1847 he purchased a farm of one hundred and thirty-seven 
acres in Wabash township. He pros])ered in his business undertakings, and 
increased his holdings to five thousand acres of land, besides other property. 
When the war broke out. be was running a steamboat on the Wabash ri\cr. 
He took a leading part in raising a company in the fall of 1861. and was 
offered its captaincy, Init refuscfl and w-ent as a private soldier. He took 
part in the battle of b'ort r_)onelson, was wounded at Shiloh, and was dis- 
charged at Indianapolis on account of his wounds, with the rank of cor|)oral. 
In politics he was a \\'hig, and later a Republican. He was a figure of 
strong and commanding importance in all the earlier history of Rarke county. 

On September 12, 1851, Aquilla Laverty was married to Elizabeth 
Justus, the daughter of .Aquilla and I\Iary ( Gormely) Justus, who came from 
Ohio to Parke countv in 1824. To this marriage were bom six children : 
Mary, decea.sed : Henry, deceased: George, Irena, Mrs. J. C. Casto. Erminie, 
Kittie C, and Jessie F., deceased. Mrs. Elizabeth Laverty passed from this 
life on .August 2, iSqo. 

On Januarv 30, 1895, Aquilla Laverty was married to Lillian Mann, 
the daughter of Albert and Harriet (\\'ard) Mann. Her parents were 
natives of New York state who emigrated to Indiana, and lived at Summit 



532 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Grove for thirty-five years. They had five children : Stella, deceased ; Lil- 
lian; Frederick, of Summit Urove: Eva, now Airs. Henry Gilmore, of Sum- 
mit Grove; and Kate, who married Elmer Potter, of Summit Grove. Albert 
Mann died in 1904, aged sixty- four, and his widow is living with her daugh- 
ter, Mrs. La\erty, at the age of sixty-eight. By his second marriage Aquilla 
Laverty was the father of two children, Aquilla, living at home with his 
mother, and Cecil Frederick, deceased. Mrs. Laverty resides in the handsome 
home erected by her across the road from the old homestead which he first 
purchased, and which became the center of his later large holdings. 



STEPHEN H. JEFFRIES. 

One of Parke county's leading agriculturists and highly respected citi- 
zens is Stephen H. Jefifries. owner of a fine farm in Adams township, a man 
who has tried to keep fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to his 
vocation and who, while laboring for his own advancement, does not neglect 
his duties to his neighbors and the community in general. He has always stood 
ready to support such measures as make for the material and ci\-ic improve- 
ment of the county. He is a man of esthetic tastes and loves nature, being 
able to get a great deal of pleasure and benefit from the study of tlie things 
around him. He has ever borne an exemplary character. 

Mr. Jefifries was born March 4, about 1850, in Clay county, Indiana, 
and is the son of Ste])hen and Elizabeth (Payne) Jeffries, the father a 
native of Fauquier county. X'irginia. and who liecame an extensi\e planter 
there. Seven children constituted his family. 

Stephen H. Jeffries grew up on his father's farm and there he worked 
during his boyhood days, attending the public schools during the winter 
months. When his mother died he worked out at farm work until he was 
about tbirtv years old. After working for some time in Frankfort, Indiana, 
he went to Edgar county, Illinois, where he rented land on which he farmed 
a while, then purchased eighty acres and lived there about thirteen years, 
during which time he got an excellent start in life, then sold out and came 
to Parke county, Indiana, buying his present farm, having added to the same 
later. It contains two hundred and forty acres which Mr. Jeffries has brought 
up to a high state of improvement and culti\-ation. It is well located about 
six miles from Rockville in one of the richest sections of the count}-. Here 
he is carrying on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 533 

and is one of the most progTcssi\c agriculturists of the county, lie has a 
coniniodioiis residence and a nuniher of large, substantial outhouses. 

Mr. Jefifries was married on October 26, 1884, to I -aura E. Benson, 
daughter of Nathaniel and ]\Iary ( Ellson) Benson. To this union have been 
born six children, namely : Pearlie is deceased ; Oscar, Charles, Ora and Carl, 
the sons, are all unmarried and at home; Grace Marie is the }'0ungest. This 
family hold membership in the Baptist church at New Discox'erv. 



HUGH MONTGOMERY. 

Those who belong to the respectable middle classes of society, being 
early taught the necessity of relying upon their own exertions, will be more 
apt to acquire that information and those business habits which alone can fit 
them for the discharge of life's duties, and, indeed, it has long been a notice- 
able fact that our great men in nearly all walks of life in America spring 
from this class. The reasons are too evident to need enumerating here. 
Hugh Montgomery, well known furniture dealer and undertaker at Monte- 
zuma, Parke count}-, Indiana, whose life histor)- we here l:)rieHv delineate, -is 
a worthy representative of the class from which the true noblemen of the 
Republic spring, whether they be men of eminence in public affairs, the arts 
and sciences, or plain, every-day citizens, striving merely to lead useful, clean 
and upright lives. 

.\lr. Montgomerx' is a scion of a sterling old family of the Blue Grass 
state and many of the commendable characteristics of the Southerner have 
outcropped in him. so that he has always enjoyed the confidence and esteem 
of all who know him. He was born in Bowling (ireeu. Indiana, August 17, 
1870. He is the son of Andrew J. and Mary E. (i'orter) Montgomery, 
both natives of Kentucky, where they grew to maturity, were educated and 
married and there spent their earlier li\es. Andrew J. Montgomery was a 
man of considerable influence in his community and when the war between 
the states began he (|uite naturall)- cast his fortunes with the South and Ix'- 
came an officer in the Confederate army, serving faithfully and gallantly 
under General Morgan. He saw considerable iiard service, and after his 
military career he returned home and resumed a ([uiet life in Scott county, 
where he remained until in the seventies, when he settled in Bowling Green, 
Indiana, where he remained with his family until about 1884, when they 
returned to Scott county, and there the father of the subject of this sketch 
was killed in 1891. The widow subsequently removed to Indiana .and her 



534 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

death occurred in Clay county several years ago. They were the parents of 
five children, four sons and one daughter, Hugh, the subject, being the 
second m order of birth. 

Hugh Alontgomery grew to manhood under his parental roof-tree and 
received a good common school education. He lived at home until he was 
fourteen years of age, then went to Kentucky, continuing to reside there 
until 1903, when he removed to Montezuma, Parke county, Indiana, and 
here established his permanent home, soon engaging in the furniture and 
undertaking business, in which he was successful from the first. He was for 
some time in partnership with his brother, but since the year 1908 he has con- 
tinued the business alone and has built up a wide and rapidly growing patron- 
age, his patrons coming from all over this and adjoining counties. He always 
carries a complete and carefully selected stock of up-to-date furniture, and 
his hundreds of regular customers always find his prices right and receive con- 
siderate and courteous treatment. 

Mr. Montgomery was married in Brazil, Indiana, in i8gi, to Nellie D. 
Perry, a native of Brazil, Clay county, this state, and there she grew to 
womanhood and was educated. She is the daughter of Col. H. W. and 
Emma (Cole) Perry, a highly respected and well known family of that 
place. 

Mr. Montgomery has always taken an active interest in public affairs 
and since coming to Parke county has been influential in the general progress 
of the town of Montezuma and vicinity. He was elected trustee of Reserve 
township in 1908 on the Democratic ticket, having secured the highest ma- 
jority since the township was organized, which is certainly sufficient evidence 
of his popularity in his home township, and the eminent satisfaction he gave 
in this office was proof of the good judgment his constituents and friends 
manifested in his choice for the position. He keeps well posted on public mat- 
ters and his support may always be depended upon in movements looking to 
the general good. 



GEORGE E. MARKS. 

While in the most of the farms in Indiana are to be traced three stages 
of development, taking place in three generations, there are some exceptions. 
Usually the grandfather of the present occupant opened the ground, and 
introduced agriculture, the father extended the area, and began using new 
methods and machinerv. and the man of todav has built a modern home and 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES^ INDIANA. 535 

farms scientificall} . In the case of the old homestead of George E. Marks, 
in Liberty township, Parke county, Indiana, we find these three de\elopments 
taking place in two generations, and see one of the prettiest and most produc- 
tive farms in that part of the state. 

George E. Marks is the son of James and Jane (Howey) Marks, who 
were both natives of Kentucky. James Marks came to Parke county in 
1829. entering ground from the government when this state was only thinly 
settled, and the farmer had many dangers to overcome in connection with liis 
work. The}- cleared their land and built their log cabin. Immediate shelter 
was needed, and they moved into their cabin before it was finished, it fur- 
nishing but a primitive protection from the weather, not even having any 
doors. Many hardships had to be endured before they had their house in 
good condition and the work on their farm successfully started. George E. 
Marks now owns the same farm which witnessed the trials of his mother and 
father. They had nine children, Lydia A., Jacob O., William S., Margaret 
R., Mary Jane, Kesiziah, James H., who was a fifer of Company E, One 
Hundred and Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantrv and who died in the 
army, Thomas M. and George E. 

George E. Marks was born in Liberty township on March 22. 1848. 
He lived there all his early life, gaining a common school education. Dur- 
ing his vacations he helped on the farm and his work on the old home place 
engendered a love for it which has caused him to still hold to that ground. 
As soon as he finished school he took up farming as his occupation for life, 
and is still actively engaged in his work. 

Mr. Marks was married March 25, 1869. to Lydia A. ^^'ilkey, the 
daughter of Willis and Mary ( Lindley) Wilkey. Her parents settled here 
in 1830. She died October 23, 191 1, at the age of sixty-one years, 
and the vacant place in the home is very keenly felt. Mr. and i\Irs. Marks 
had four children, the oldest of whom is Horace Elmer. He married Piety 
May and they have one daughter, Doreen M. Horace resides in Rockville 
and is in the clothing business. James B. Marks married Armilda C. Allen, 
and thev are the parents of three children, James G., Lydia D. and Mary K.. 
who reside on the home farm. Jennie M. is the wife of Alvin Lindley. 
They live in Liberty township and have one child. George W. Mary Effie 
is dead. 

George E. Marks has always been a hard working, honest and straight- 
forward man, making friends throughout Parke county and gaining the 
respect of his neighbors. He is a Republican, but has held nn office, his time 



536 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

being taken up entirely by his duties at home. He still lives on the old home- 
stead, that holds all the associations he holds dear, and sees in it the products 
of much of his life's work. It is such men as Mr. Marks that form the back- 
bone of this country and buM the foundations for all trading, manufacturing 
and invention that have made this a great nation. 



JOHN R. MILLER. 



One of the oldest, best known and most respected names in Parke coun- 
t\-, Indiana, is that of 2\Iiller. They have been residents of that county for 
many years, and have been active in building up that section of the country. 
The representative of the family during the present generation is John R. 
Miller, who lives on the land in Raccoon township w Inch was tirst tilled by his 
grandfather, Tobias Miller. 

Tobias Miller came from Butler county, Ohio, when the farms in Parke 
county were few and far between. It was in 181 6 when he first broke the 
land in Raccoon township, built his home, and established a home in what 
was then almost a wilderness. He commenced farming there, and remained 
the rest of his days, leaving the land to his son, James X. Miller, who was born 
in 1827. James N. Miller became one of the richest farmers in that part 
of the country. He married Sarah Snow, a native of Parke county, who 
was lx)rn in 1825 and died in 1906. He .survived her four years, dying in 
1910. lames N. and Sarah Miller had eight children : Alice married VV. R. 
Clements: Joseph A. married Emily Bell; Martha .V. is the wife of W. J. 
White: Emma married William Goodin; Maggie is the wife of Isaac M. 
Overpeck: George C, Dick and John R. Miller. 

John R. Miller was born in Raccoon township. Parke county. May 10. 
1857. He lived on the farm during his school days, working on the farm dur- 
ing his vacations and learning many valuable lessons. He became very much 
interested in the work, and after leaving school decided upon farming as his 
life occupation. He began farming at that time, and is still active. He was 
married. December 26. 1886. to Libby Cahill, the daughter of Jesse and Emma 
( Morris ) Cahill. who were nati\es of Ohio. They have six children : Roy, 
Blanche, George. Edith, Pauline and Leone. The family are all members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, and hold prominent places in the social as 
w-ell as the business life of Parke countv. Mr. Miller has devoted his life to 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 537 

his family and his farm, and his reward is a large happy famil) and one of 
the most productive farms in Indiana. He has been an honest, industrious, 
and just citizen, and has won the honor and respect of his neighbors and 
friends, by straightforward, clean and just dealings with all. The lives of 
such men cause those who have lived in the large cities, and had their lungs 
filled with the smoke of the hundreds of factories, and their lives tarnished 
and stunted by hurry and limitation, to look with envy on that life, and ac-' 
knowledge indeed that the farmer is the king of America. 



ALOXZO O. BENSON. 

So many oi the men who ha\e made a name for themselves by their work 
in their commuuil\ toda_\\ are the grandsuns of those who came to Indiana 
when the country was a wilderness, cut aw a\- the forest and claimed the land 
for agriculture. It took brasery in those days to face the uncertainties of an 
unknown country and carve out a home by pure physical force. Those men 
gave to their sons a great heritage, and the latter brought the land to a higher 
state of cultivation and improved the farms greatl}'. But it takes none the less 
courage, and that of a more mental quality, to meet the problems of today 
that confronts the granilsons of those hrst-comers. Among those who have been 
foremost in facing these questions in Parke county is Alonzo O. Benson, in 
whose blood runs the courage that meant so much to his forefathers and whose 
sagacity is meet to face every ol)slrucli(in in tJK- jjiithway of the welfare of 
his community. 

His grandfather, Samuel Benson, came in I'arke count) in i8_'c) and set- 
tled in Raccoon township, on a farm where he worked during life. He left 
the place to his son. Benjamin Thomas Watson Benson, who was born in 
Raccoon townshij). Benjamin Benson married Susan Moore, and they had 
four children; Charles E. was born in Raccoon township, as was also Alonzo 
O. ; Franklin Benson died at the age of three years, and Samuel 1.. when he 
was only eighteen months old. 

Alonzo O. Benson was liorn February 27. t86o. He lived on the farm 
when he was a bov and attended the common school in Parke county. On 
June 29, 1904, he married Myra S. Baker, daughter of Samuel N. and Mary 
Frances (Knapp) Baker. Samuel N. Baker was a native of Parke county. 
his father having come from Kentucky as a potter, and moved to Rockville. 



538 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Myra S. and Alonzo O. Benson have only one child, Watson Lambert, who is 
at home. 

Mr. Benson has been ni Bridgeton, Indiana, in the livery business for 
twenty-iive years, and he has been very successful. During the last twenty 
years he has also been an undertaker and funeral director. Although he has 
given his business his careful attention, Mr. Benson has found the time to 
also serve his community in many ways. Besides being an active and reliable 
citizen for over half a century, he has held a number of positions of trust in 
his community. Mr. Benson was trustee for two years. He is ex-chairman 
of the county council, which position he held for four years, and he has been 
a member of that body for eight years. Mr. Benson is a Republican, and has 
always been active in the politics of his community, taking a firm stand on all 
questions that appealed to his sense of justice and the general good. His wife 
has also been very active in the questions of the community. She is a native 
of Rockville, Indiana, and was identified with the schools of Parke county, 
particularly those of Rockville and Rosedale for over twelve years. Their 
influence in the community is always for something better in education, poli- 
tics, business and social life, and their work will bring forth fruit in unknown 
wavs for manv vears. 



JAMES H. KERR. 



The man who is really great is he who can always find at hand some good 
to accomplish, and goes to work at is with a courage and industry that win. His 
work is usually so entwined with the interests of liis nati\e community, and 
his actions reflect so much good to his neighborhood that to see what has 
been accomplished in his immediate vicinity is to know something of the man. 
For this reason the history of Parke county would be very incomplete without 
marked mention of the life and work of James H. Kerr, of Bridgeton, Rac- 
coon township, Parke county, Indiana. He and his father before him have 
taken such a leading part in the building up of that country that the name of 
Kerr is well known, and honored wherever it is known. 

James H. Kerr is the son of James and Mary (Hartman) Kerr. James 
Kerr, Sr., was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and lived there 
until he was eight years old. At that time there was a general westward 
movement, and the Kerr family joined the migration to the west, settling 
first in Fleming county, Kentucky. They stayed there for only two vears. 



PAKKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 539 

however, and then went tu Aiason county, Kentucky. In iSiO Air. James 
Kerr rirst came to Indiana, and bought land. At that time Indiana was very 
thuily settled and there v\ere nu houses at all ui Parke county. During tne 
next two years Mr. Kerr made frequent trips back and forth between Kentucky 
and Indiana. Finally, hi 1822, the family moved to Indiana, and Mr. Kerr 
took up farming, lie had twelve children, three of whom are still living, lie 
died in 1876, at the age of eighty-live, iiis wife was a native of Virginia, 
and moved to Parke county, Indiana, in 1818. She died m 1884, at the age 
of eighty-three years. 

James H. iverr was born in Kaccoon township, Parke county, Indiana, 
August 22, 1839. He lived the life of the farm lad of that day, attending the 
common schools, helping on the home farm, and enjoying the healthful sports 
of the country. The school house was one of the type known now-a-days 
only in fiction, and the seats from which James H. iverr learned his three R's 
were logs, split in two, and propped up on pins for legs. As soon as he was 
through with school Mr. Kerr turned his attention to farming, and was 
progressing rapidly in his agricultural education when the call '"To Arms" 
came, and he left all to take his place in the ranks of the army of the Union. 
He enlisted in 1861 in Company H of the Second Indiana Cavalry, in the 
Army of the Cumberland, taking part in the battle of Shiloh and other engage- 
ments on the way. He was mustered out in July, i8()j, and discharged at 
Indianapolis because of sickness. 

Air. Kerr was married March 10, 1863, to Mari H. Nichols, the daugh- 
ter of Andrew J. Xichols. She died in. 1895, at the age of fifty-two years. 
They had six children, Ella Ivlna. George, James and Mary E.. who are liv- 
ing, and Hattie M. and Grace \'.. who are dead. On June 10, 1897, he 
was married to Edith A. Gillet and they have had three children, I'aul S.. 
Samuel E. and Mabel Esther. 

As soon as he returned from the army and regained his health .Mr. Kerr 
took up faniiin,!,;- and was act!\e in the farm work ntilil 1899, when he re- 
tired. He has been very successful in his fanning, bringing his land to a 
high state of cultivation. 

He has found time, however, to also take a great deal of interest in 
the public affairs of his coniniunity. and has always taken an active part in 
the political life of his county. .Mthough he is a successful man of the 
old school, Mr. Kerr is not narrowed in his perception and has not allowed 
himself to get into such habits of thought that he cannot see what is good 
in new ideas, and his views on all the problems that confront the country 



540 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

today are those of the young, progressive thought, tempered to a degree 
through experience. Mr. Kerr is a Progressive. He has always been a 
prominent political tigure in Parke county, being the only man who has been 
elected the second term to a position of trustee in his township. He is an 
ex-county commissioner, which oftice he held for six years. He was count}' 
trustee for five years, and held the office of township assessor for two years. 
]\lr. Kerr had an ample political education, his father being elected to the 
Legislature for live terms, and he has put his knowledge into practice for 
the good of his county. 

Mr. Kerr is a nieml)er of the Methodist Episcopal church and has been 
acti\e in church wurk. He has always used his political prominence for the 
good of his cummunity and is very popular in Parke county. It is well for 
an}- count}- when they put their political power in the hands of men who know 
how it can best be used to promote the general good and who are brave enough 
to carry out the plans of the people in spite of heavy odds. James H. Kerr has 
done this for Parke county and the people there will long feel the influence 
of his persoiialit\- and his work will li\'e long after him. 



JOHN W. GILMORE. 

The Scotch ha\c brought to this countr}- some of the most valuable 
traits that make the American citizen. The Scotchman in this county al- 
ways stands for the highest integrity and his unceasing industry and careful 
attention to his task have put him in places of trust wherever he is found. 
The kindly nature of the Scotchman and the quiet good humor w ith which 
he meets the perplexing problems that come up in the business world, to- 
gether with his tact in working with his fellows, have often placed him in 
positions of authority. Although he has spent almost his entire life in this 
country and is a capable American business man, John W. Gilmore. of Dia- 
mond. Raccoon township. Parke county, Indiana, has brought into his life 
many of the Scotch traits and he stands in a prominent place in the life of 
his community. 

John W. Gilmore was born in Scotland. January 5. 1881. and lived in 
that countr}- for eleven months, at which age he was brought to the United 
States. His first home on this side of the Atlantic was in Brazil. Indiana, 
where he lived for twent\- vears, and received his education in the common 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 54I 

schools. On October 3, 1900, he was married to Jennie Spence, who was a 
native of this state, having been born about three miles north of Brazil, In- 
diana, on April 10, 1885. She received a common school education also. 
They ha\'e fuur children: Evelina was born July 12, 1901 ; Sarah, on .May 
28, 1904; Georgine, on March 12, 1906: and James, on March j. 1909. Sarah, 
Georgine and James were born at Diamond, Indiana, l^velina was born at 
Cardonia, Indiana. 

Soon afler he finished school Mr. (Jilmore starteil trajiping in the mines 
near Brazil. Indiana. Later he worked as a miner for about a year, and com- 
menced hring. Mr. Gilmore was a hard worker and very competent and 
thorough in his work, and as a result he soon became an engineer with the 
Brazil Block Company. In 1902 John \V. Gilmore moved to Parke county, 
Indiana, locating at Diamond. Raccoon township. He acce])te(l a ])osition 
with the Brazil Coal Company in that district, and has proved a \ er\' \alual)le 
man to them. He is now the engineer for Mine No. 9. 

In the ten years in which he has ii\-ed in that community. Mr. ( lilmore 
has proved himself a reliable citizen and a man wortln- to be respected by his 
neighbors and friends. He has made this land his own, as have so many of 
those who have come here from the old country, and is as loyal as if this 
were his native soil. For such men as these, bringing new blond into the 
country, any community should be grateful, especially w ben they prove them- 
selves such additions to the social, political and l)usiness life of the place as 
Mr. Gilmore. their place in the history of the count\' is estalilished. 



MILO I. RUDY. 



From the pioneer period through many decades the subject of this sketch 
has been identified with the history of \^ermillit)n county. Indiana, and has 
won for himself an honorable position in the circles in which he has moved, 
being a distinct type of the successful, self-made man. Not a pretentious or 
exalted life has been his. hut one that has been true to itself, and to which 
the biographer may revert with feelings of respect and satisfaction. His life 
has been identified with agricultural activities nf his community and he gained 
a good reputation as an intelligent and successful tiller of the soil. He is 
recognized as a man of alert mentality, deeply interested in e\ cry thing per- 
taining to the advancement of the communih^ along material, civic and moral 



542 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

lines, and is generally recognized as one of the representative men of the 
locality in which he lives. 

Milo J. Rudy was born on October 21, 1839, in Highland township, 
Vermillion county, Indiana, and is the son of Jacob and Catherine (Lillyj 
Rudy. The subject's paternal grandfather, Martin Rudy, was a native of 
Germany, who emigrated to the United States, taking passage on a sailing- 
vessel which required sixteen weeks to make the voyage. Landing in New- 
York City, the family went to Pennsylvania, locating near Williamsport. In 
1832 he made the long and tedious overland journey to Rockville, Indiana, 
then, the following year, located in Vermillion county, where his remaining 
years were spent. He was the father of eight children, namelv: Margaret. 
Jacob (father of the subject), Andrew, Elizabeth, one that died in infancy, 
Martha, John and Christina. 

Jacob Rudy was born in Switzerland in 1818, and his death occurred on 
January 31. 1880. His wife died in 1840, at the early age of thirty-five years. 
They were the parents of four children, namely: Martin, Catherine, John 
and Milo J. Jacob Rudy secured his education in the common schools and 
during his active years followed the vocation of a shoemaker. He was a n-ian 
of splendid personal qualities and enjoyed to a marked degree the esteem of 
all wlio knew him. 

Milo J. Rudy secured his education in the public schools of his home com- 
munit\- and upon attaining mature years he engaged in farming, to whicli 
vocation the major part of his life has l)een devoted. He has given thoughtful 
and intelligent direction to all his eliforts and he has been rewarded with a 
fair measure of success, so that he has for many years been numl)ered among 
the substantial and representative men of his section of the county. In March, 
191 2, Mr. Rudy assisted in the organization of the Perrysville Bank, which 
has a capital of ten thousand dollars, and of which he is vice-president. 

Politically, Mr. Rudy is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and 
has rendered efficient ser\ice as trustee of Highland township. Tie is a trustee 
of the Colletts Orphans' Home, near Cayuga. Religiously, he is a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which 1-ie is an earnest sujiporter by his 
time and means. 

On January 13, 1869, Mr. Rudy married Sophia S. Eesce, the daughter 
of Samuel and Harriet (English) Lesce, natives of Maryland and early set- 
tlers in Vermillion county. To Mr. and Mrs. Rudy no children were born, 
but they reared a boy. who is known as Alonzo L. Rudy. 'Mrs. Rudy, who 
was born on August 21. 1844, died on February 25, 1904. aged sixty years. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 543 

She was a woman of many gracious qualities of head and heart and her loss 
was deeply regretted by a large circle of friends. Her father, Samuel Lesce, 
was born in Alaryland in 1832, while her maternal grandfather, Charles Eng- 
lish, was born on September 9, 1786, his daughter Harriet, Mrs. Rudy's 
mother, being born on December 18, 1813. 

Though now advanced in \ears, Mr. Rud\' still takes a keen interest in 
public afifairs and is numbered among the leading citizens of his section of the 
county. A pleasing and unusual relic of other days is in his possession, in 
the shape of the first baby clothes which were put on him nearly three-quarters 
of a centurv ago. The\' are hand-made and are in an excellent state of pres- 
ervation. 



RICHARD F. CHURCH. 

Vermillion county has a popular and ethcient public official and pro- 
gressive man of affairs in the person of Richard F. Church, of Helt town- 
ship, a man who has always made it a point to do well whatever task he found 
to be done, whether in line of public duty or for himself and famil}-, and, 
being a man who keeps well posted and a keen observer by nature, he has 
never been found behind the times, and his intluence for the betterment of 
his community has been most potent in every way. 

Mr. Church was born in Helt township, Vermillion county, Indiana, Feb- 
ruary 12, 1850, the son of Josiah and Fannie (Ford) Church. ?Iis jiaternal 
grandfather. Alanson Church, was a nati\e of X'enncjnt, where he .spent his 
boyhood and from there he came to Fountain county. Indiana, in an early 
da\-. There the father of the sui)iect was born, and there he grew to manhood, 
was educated and vhen a young man he established his future home in \^er- 
million countv and here was married. He settled first on Helt Prairie, later 
moving to the old James land, which he liought for one dollar and twenty-five 
cents per acre, which land w-as entered from the government by l^Iijah P.. 
James. Here Mr. Church went to work with a will, cleared up the land and 
developed a good farm, becoming one of the substantial men of the neighbor- 
hood. His familv consisted of twelve children, namely: Richard ¥.. of this 
sketch, being the oldest : Alanson L., Nancy. Susan. Merina Jane. Mary Cath- 
erine: Tosiah Otis is dccea.sed : Eliza Ann. Joel Lincoln. T.cwis Murton. 
George \\'illnir. and Tohn Augustus. 



544 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Josiah Church was a Republican and for some time was constable in his 
township. 

Richard ¥. Church grew to manhood on the home farm in Helt town- 
ship, and there he received a good common school education, continuing to 
work for his father until manhood, and he has made farming his life work, 
being very successful and is now in possession of a good farm and a pleasant 
home as a result of his industry and close application. 

In 1870 J\Ir. Church was married to Eliza Ellen Michael, daughter of 
John and Missouri (Edward) Alichael, both natives of Kentucky, from which 
state they removed to Missouri in an early day and were living there when 
the subject was married. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Church, namely : Ollie May, Josiah Otis, Orpha i\Iyrtle, Clarence E., Oscar 
F., Ren A., William Frederick, Lewis Evan, Ruth B. ; Harry A. and Roy are 
both deceased. 

Mr. Church has been deputy towmship assessor one term, also supervisor 
and school director, discharging the duties of the office most worthily and ac- 
ceptably. Religiously, he l)elongs to the ■Methodist church. 



BIRD H. DAVIS. 



Bird Herman Davis, oldest son of Samuel Brenton and Sarah Canady 
Davis, was born in Newport, Indiana, April 29. 1869, and has lived in the 
little county-seat town under the "famous big hill" all the time since. His 
education was obtained in the Newport schools. He has been connected with 
the Hoosicr State all of his life, having filled every position about the office 
from "devil" up to editor. He began "up-ending the culd metal" at nine 
years of age; at seventeen he was foreman and at twenty-four he was editor 
and manager. 

In March, 1887, he received the appointment to the West Point Alili- 
tary Academy from Congressman James T. Johnston, of Rockville, having 
won the honor in a competitive examination against twent\-one others. He 
reported to the academv in June. 1887, but the army surgeons rejected him 
on account of his physique, he being five feet ten and only weighed one hun- 
dred and twentA'-six. He weighs two hundred and ten now. 

Mr. Davis was married Mav 9. T894. to Grace Carter. They Inave 




BIRD H. DAVIS. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 545 

three children, Shell Carter Davis, Jennie Doyne Da\is and Samuel Brenton 
Davis. 

He is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Masonic 
lodges. He has received all the honors of the subordinate lodge of Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd Fellows, having been secretary of the local lodge for eight 
years and is now a trustee of the local order. He represented the lodge in 
the grand body at Intlianapolis and in that body was appointed a member of 
the committee on Daughters of Kel:)ekah and was appointed proof reader for 
the year 1912. 

He was appointed a member (as a Republican) of the board of trustees 
of the Southern Indiana Hospital for the Insane by Go\'. J. Frank Hanly in 
May, 1907, and was re-appointed by Gov. Thomas R. Marshall in May, 191 1. 
He served as secretary of the board for the first four years and has been 
president of the board for two years. 

He is also president and secretary of the Newport Cemetery Association 
and president of the Newport Building and Loan Association. 

He was secretary during the last campaign of the Republican county 
central committee. He filled that position during three other campaigns. 



CHARLES HENRY MEYERS. 

One of the best known of the younger business men of Clinton, \ermil- 
lion county, is Charles Henry Meyers, a man who is the possessor of indomit- 
able courage, industry and progressive ideas and w hose code of business ethics 
has ever been of the best, consequently he enjoys the confidence and good w ill 
of those with whom he comes into contact, and, being a genial, obliging, gen- 
teel gentleman, he is popular with a wide circle of friends and aci|uaintances. 

Mr. Meyers was born in Terre Haute, Vigo county, Indiana. October 30, 
1875. and is a son of Henry and Eliza (Hinzes) Meyers. The father was 
bom in Germany, where he spent his early life and when a young man he 
emigrated to the United States, landing at New York City, from w hich place 
he came direct to Terre Haute. He was accompanied by his wife, who also 
was a native of Germany, where the\- grew up. were educated and married. 
The elder Meyers was a book-binder by trade and followed that all his life. 
He became very comfortably established in Terre Haute, where he spent the 
rest of his life and where he died in 187R. and there the mother is ^till li\ ing. 

(35) 



546 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

They became the parents of eight children, namely ; .\lbert, Emma, Court, 
Fritz H., Alvina, Henry, Mamie, and Charles H., the subject, who is the 
youngest of the family. 

Charles H. Aleyers was reared to manhood in Terre Haute and he re- 
ceived a good education in the common schools there, also took a course in 
Carvin's Business College. He then entered the mercantile business, which he 
followed two years, after which he came to Clinton and went into the restaur- 
ant and bakery business, later took up the hotel business, operating successfully 
the Hotel Clinton, also started a wholesale bakery business, both of which he 
has continued to the present time and is eminently successful in both, his hotel 
being popular with ihe traveling public and his bakery products are sent all 
over this section of the state, there being an eager demand for his goods owing 
to their uniform high grade quality. 'Sir. Meyers has met with a large measure 
of success in a business way. being a man of keen discernment and good judg- 
ment, and he is a fine specimen of a progressive, virile, self-made man, pos- 
sessing those qualities that would have brought him success in any field of 
endeavor. 

Fraternally, Mr. Meyers is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, 
the Knights of Pythias, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. 

On September 14. 1905, he was united in marriage to Nellie Lambert, 
daughter of George and Melissa fSheppard) Lambert. Both the Lambert 
and Sheppard families are old settlers of Vermillion county and highly re- 
spected people, and here Mrs. Meyers grew to womanhood and received her 
education. To Mr. and Mrs. Meyers three children have been born, namely ; 
Carl. Frederick and Alice, all at home. 



DARWIN ANDREWS. 

The subject of this sketch is known to his many friends and acquaintances 
as one of the leading citizens and business men of the town of Dana and one of 
the worthiest native sons of Vermillion county, being a man of progressive 
ideas and at all times ready to do his part in furthering any interest for the 
public good. 

Darwin Andrews was born in Vermillion county. Indiana, .\pril 29, 
1857. and is a son of James and Hannah (Puffer) Andrews, the father born 
in Vermillion county in 1S34 and the mother was a native of Deerfield. Massa- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. ^4^ 

chusetts, born November 22, 1S22, from which state her family removed to 
the state of New York in 1839. She married, tirst, Wilham Rhodes, January 
21, 1845, 3"d to them were born three children, two now living, William 
Rhodes, a merchant at Dana, and Mrs. Didama McDonald, of Memphis, 
Tennessee. William Rhodes died November 6, 1851, and in July, 1856, she 
was married to James Andrews, and they had four children, three living. 
She died in October, 1895. James ^Andrews grew to manhood in his native 
locality and recei\ed his education in the common schools. When the Civil 
war came on he enlisted in i8f)2 at Terre Haute in the Eighty-hfth Indiana 
Vohinteer Infantry, under Captain Bales. Among the engagements in w Inch 
the elder ,\ndrews participated was that of Resaca, (leorgia. in which Itattle 
he was killed May 15, 1865. 

Darwin Andrews is one of a familv of foiu' children, three of whom are 
still living, the others being Courtland Andrews and Miss Marylaml Andrews, 
both of Urbana, Illinois. He grew to manhood in this county and received 
his education in the common schools. On December 5, 1880, he married 
Lula E. Downs, who was born' May 16, 1859. Mrs. Andrews grew to woman- 
hood in this \icinit\' and received a good common school education. 

To the subject and wife four children were born, Lavere, whose birth 
occurred September 6, 1889, being the only surviving one. She married Ray- 
mond B. Mouser, of Hanover, Indiana, an enterjirising young business man 
who is engaged in merchandising with Mr. .\ndrews. of this review. Mrs. 
Mouser grew to womanhood at Dana and is a graduate of the high school 
there, later taking a course in a commercial college at Indianapolis. 

Darwin Andrews began life for himself as a farmer, which he followed 
with pronounced success until t886, when he turncfl his attention to mer- 
chandising, in partnership with W. M. Rliode--. under the firm name of Rhodes 
& .Andrews, which continued successfully until 1901, when Mr. Andrews went 
into business for himself, which he has continued to the present time, his .son- 
in-law now being w ith him. A large and carefully selected general stock is 
carried, also drv goods, and a very extensive business is carried on with the 
town and the surrounding country, many of their regular customers coming 
from remote distances. 

Mr. .\ndrews has been verv successful in a business way and has accu- 
mulated a competency through his close application and good management. 
He owns a large, attractive home in Dana and some good business lots there. 
Politicallv. he is a Democrat and while he takes much interest in the affairs 



548 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

of his community in a public way, he is not by any means a poHtician. Fra- 
ternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen, and he is one of tlie pillars of 
the local Methodist church, being a trustee in the same and he assisted in 
building the present church edifice. 



DANIEL S. STRONG, M. D. 

The medical profession of Vermillion county has a \ery able and popular 
representative at Dana in the person of Dr. Daniel S. Strong, a young man 
who seems to combine all the natural characteristics of head and heart for a 
successful phvsician, at least he has had continuous success and is well liked 
by the people, although he has not been long established in our midst, but judg- 
ing from his excellent start the future promises much for him. 

Daniel S. Strong was born February 24, 1878, in Santa Cruz. California, 
a son of Alex. U. and Saphronia E. (McCampbellj Strong, both natives of 
Indiana, and both still living, making their home in Parke county, where they 
are engaged in general farming. They are the parents of eight children, six 
of whom are still living. 

Dr. Strong received a good preparatory education in the common schools, 
later taking a course in the Bloomingdale Academy, and a business course in 
Indianapolis, but, finally determining upon a medical course, he went to Cin- 
cinnati, and entered the Eclectic Medical College, where he made a splendid 
record and from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1908. 
He soon after established himself at the town of Hill.sdale, Vermillion county, 
where he soon had a very lucrative practice and where he remained until he 
came to Dana in June. igi2, where his fame as a general practitioner had 
preceded him, and here he has enjoyed a large and rapidly growing practice, 
which extends over this part of the county and he often responds to calls from 
remote parts of the locality. 

Dr. Strong was married on January 27. 1903, to Essie B. Baldridge. of 
Terre Haute, who was born October 4. 1882, and she received a good common 
school education. To this union two children have been born. Kathleen Ruth, 
born October 15. 1905. and Gertrude, born March 7. 1909. They are both 
win<\ome little lassies, who add much sunshine to the cozy home of their par- 
ents. Dr. Strong and wife own a good residence in Dana. 

Fraternally, Dr. Strong belongs to the Masonic order at Judsnn : the 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 549 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen, both at ilills- 
dale, this county. He has been acti\e and influential in these bodies for some 
time. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. He takes considerable in- 
terest in politics, being; a stanch Democrat, and in 1909 he was elected count\- 
collector, whicli office he still holds to the satisfaction of all concerned. 



JACOB G. DAVIS. 

In giving a list of the enterprising and respected citizens m Parke and 
Vermillion counties none is deemed worthier of representation in a work of 
this nature than Jacob G. Davis, the well known business man of the town ot 
Dana; not that he has accomplished startlingly big things or served in high' 
public positions, but that he has been a man of industry and honesty, of public 
spirit and helpful to those about him, such men being needed in every com- 
munity. 

Mr. Davis was born June 5, 1865, in Vigo county, Indiana, the son of 
W. T. and Mary (Bonty) Davis, the father a native of X'irginia and the 
mother of Parke count}', huliana. The father came to Indiana when a small 
boy and here spent the rest of his life, engaged in general farming until fifteen 
years before his death, when he gave up farming and established a meat mar- 
ket. The mother of our subject passed away on August 8. 1S75. Tlie\' were 
the parents of seven children. fl\e of whom are still living. 

Jacob G. Davis grew up in his home community anti rcccixed his educa- 
tion in the common schools. After he became of age he began in the meat 
market business, which he has followed with much success for a period of 
twentv-seven years, enjoying a wide patronage and a lucrative business, hav- 
ing worked for himself exclusively for the jiast fifteen years. He owns and 
operates the onlv meat market in Dana. His place is well ec|uipped and here 
the public is always enabled to secure what it wants in the meat line at all 
seasons. He owns his place of business and the home where his son lives, 
also twentv-six acres of good land northea.st of Dana, all tillable and well 
tilled, on which is a good cattle barn and slaughter yard. 

Fraternallv, Mr. Davis belongs to the Masonic order, the Knights of 
Pythias and the Woodmen, all at Dana. He belongs to the Methodist church 
and is a tnistee in the same. Politically, he is a Republican and is much in- 



550 , PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

terested in local public affairs, having aided in no small \\a\' in the de\elup- 
ment of his community along all lines. 

Mr. Davis was married on March 23, 1889, to Rosella D. Landers, who 
was born on December 6, 1889, in Vermillion county, Indiana, and reared and 
educated here. She is a daughter of Lyon R. Landers. To this union live 
children have been born : William H., w ho married Lilly Randolph ; Ernest 
E. L., Byron Baily, Milton A. and Joseph. 



ASA A. HESS. 



One of the successful, self-made men of Vermillion county is Asa A. 
Hess, formerly a hardware merchant at Dana, but now engaged in the insur- 
ance business. He is a man of marked enterprise and capability, and he carries 
forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He has long been 
an important factor in business circles in this locality and his popularity is 
well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unabating 
energy, unbending integrity and industry that never flags. 

Mr. Hess was born in Edgar county, Illinois, April 19, 1873, the son of 
Samuel and Thana (McGuire) Hess, both parents nati\es of Pennsylvania, in 
which state they grew up, were educated and married. The father devoted 
his life to agricultural pursuits, and his death occurred on April i, 1881, at the 
age of forty-four years. Five children were born to Samuel Hess and wife, 
namely : Lena died in infancy ; Clinton is deceased ; ^Asa A., subject of this 
sketch : Ira, who lives at Clinton, Indiana ; and Delia, who resides at Dana, 
this state. 

Asa A. Hess grew to manhood on the home farm and there he assisted 
with the general work when he became of proper age. He attended night 
school for a time in his youth, but he is principally self-educated, having re- 
mained a student all his life, and is widely read. On June 20. 1909, he was 
united in marriage to Edith L. Clover, daughter of \^'illiam and Alice Clover, 
both natives of Indiana. Mrs. Hess's paternal grandparents were early settlers 
in this section of the state. The union of the subject and wife has been with- 
out issue. 

Mr. Hess has always taken an abiding interest in public affairs and he 
is at this writing city treasurer of Dana. For six years he was successfully 
engaged in the hardware business at Dana, enjoying an excellent trade with 



PAKKK AND VERMII.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. ^Z^l 

the town and surrounding country, always carrying a large stock, under the 
firm name of Hess & Hess. He then took an automobile agency in Indiana 
and built up a large business in llus lield. About two years ago he took up an 
insurance business at Dana, w Inch he has since continued and in w hich he is 
making a pronounced success. 

Mr. Hess is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a liberal 
supporter of the same. He has long taken a great deal of interest in the 
affairs of Dana and community and has done much in the upbuilding and 
general progress of the same, his efforts being fully appreciated bv all. 



JESSE E. HADDON. 

The names of those men who have distinguished themsehes through the 
possession of those qualities which daily contribute to the success of private 
life and to the public stability and who have enjoyed the respect and confidence 
of those about them, should not be permitted to perish. Such a one is Jesse E. 
Haddon, well known druggist at Dana, Vermillion county, and formerly post- 
master at that place, a veteran of the Spanish- American war and a man who 
has proven his patriotism and public spirit on numerous occasions. 

Mr. Haddon- was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, March 29, 1870, the 
son of James and Nancy (Short) Haddon, the father also a native of Sullivan 
county. He devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, and IxUh hv and iiis wife 
are now deceased, the death of the subject's mother having occurred when he 
was young. 

Jesse E. Haddon was reared on his father's farm in Sullivan county, <in 
which he worked when of proper age, during the crop seasons, and in the 
winter time he attended the public .schools, then entered Darniuli Central 
Normal College, where he studied pharmacy, and after his graduation there 
he began teaching school in Sullivan county, which he followed with success 
for some time. .'\t the commencement of the Spanish-.American war he en- 
listed in the hospital corps of the United States army and served throughout 
the war in Cuba and Porto Rico, in a most faithful and efficient manner. He 
was discharged on April 8, 1899. Returning to Indiana, he took up the drug 
business at Dana in igoo and has continued the same to the present time with 
e\'er-increasing success, enjoying a large patronage with the town and sur- 



552 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

rounding country, al\va3S carrying a complete and carefully selected stock of 
drugs and drug sundries. 

Mr. Haddon was married in 1902 to Alargaret Griffiths, daughter of 
John E. and Jane (James) Griffiths, both born in Wales, from which country 
they came to the United States about 1870, when the wife of the subject was 
about eight years old. The Griffiths reside in Clinton township, Vermillion 
county, and a fuller sketch of them will be found elsewhere in this work. 

Four children ha\e been born to the subject and wife, namely; John, 
James, Eugene and Max, all at home with their parents. 

Mr. Haddon has always taken a deep interest in public affairs and his 
support may always be depended upon in any movement looking to the general 
development of his community. He was postmaster at Dana under Roose- 
velt's administration, discharging the duties of the same in a manner that was 
highly acceptable to the people and the department. Fraternally, he belongs 
to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, both in 
Sullivan county. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 



JAMES F. BURNETT. 

A citizen of Helt township, Vermillion county, Indiana, who is too well 
known to the readers of this history to need a formal introduction here is 
James V. Burnett, for here he has spent practically all his life and has been 
active in the affairs of the township and county, always supporting such meas- 
ures as made for the general success of the same, and he has led a life that has 
upheld the good name of his progenitors. He is one of our honored veterans 
of the Civil war, and for many reasons is eligible to representation in this 
work along with other leading citizens of this and Parke county. 

Mr. Burnett was born in Helt township, \'ermillion county, Indiana, June 
17, 1844, and is a son of James F., Sr., and Rosanna (Kaufman) Burnett, the 
father a native of Kentucky and the mother of North Carolina. The former 
was seven years of age when he came to Indiana with his parents, his father, 
William Burnett, locating in Sullivan county, near the town of Merom. He 
was a miller and followed that in connection with farming all his life. James 
F. Burnett, Sr,, grew to manhood in Sulli\an county and was educated in the 
common schools there, and there he was married, after which he moved to 
Vennillion countv and located about two nn'les east of Dana, and there he con- 



PARKIi AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 553 

tinued to reside until his son, James Jb'., Jr., was seven years old, at which 
time he removed to the town of Dana, where he spent the balance of his life. 
His family consisted of ciglu children, namely; William is deceased; Samuel 
is deceased; Mary labitha was next in order of birth; James F., of this re- 
view; Hester is deceased; Joel lives in Hutchinson, Kansas; Hannah lives in 
Vermillion county ; Leaner died when eleven months old. 

Of the above named children, three proved their patriotism during the 
natipnal crisis in the early sixties by enlisting in defense of the flag. William 
enlisted in 18O1 in Company I, Thirty-first Indiana \'olunteer Infantry: he 
was captured at the battle of Chickamauga and was confined in Libby prison, 
later remo\ed from there to Anderson ville, where he died December 15, 1864. 
Samuel enlisted early in the war in Company G, Seventy-first Indiana Volun- 
teer Infantrx' and was captured at Tazewell. Tennessee, January 19, 1864, and 
sent to Andersonville prison, where he died June 16, 1864. James F., the sub- 
ject, enlisted on February 13, 1863, in Company G, Seventy-first Indiana Vol- 
unteer Infanti'}-, and he served very faithfully in the Army of the Cumberland, 
fighting with that great division of the Union army in many important battles 
and participating in a number of campaigns. He was captured at Macon, 
Georgia, and sent to Anderson\ille in 1864, and was paroled in 1863, returning 
to his company after being exchanged. He relates with much interest the hor- 
rors of that terrible prison, and had he not been a young man with an iron 
constitution he could not have survi\-ed. He was awhile ;it the front in Gen- 
eral Stoneman's cavalry, and accompanied Sherman on the Atlanta cam- 
paign, later being sent to relieve prisoners at Andersonville and was captured. 
He has in his possession a roster of the survivors of .\ndersonville, which 
shows between eight hundred and nine hundred names. 

Mr. Burnett was married on November it, 1866, to Frances Whalen, 
daughter of James and Lydia Ann (Wright) ^^'halen. These parents for- 
merlv lived near the great Mammoth cave in Kentuck\-. The father devoted 
his life to black.smithing. Plis family consisted of seven children, namely: 
Frances, .\rdella. Rachael. James. Monroe, Mary and Nancy. Mr. Whalen 
came to Fdgar county. Illinois, where he settled at the town of Paris, and 
there the wife of the subject was born March 24, 1845. Five children have 
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Burnett, .namely: William. John. Fred. Otis; 
Morton, who was drowned in Kansas, after tqoo. 

Mr. Burnett has been elected four different times marshal of the town 
of Dana, and has given the utmost satisfaction in this capacity, having the 



554 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

contidence and good will of the people whom he has sought to serve honestly 
and as ably as possible. His chief life work has been farming. 

Mr. Burnett is a member of the Baptist church, and of the H. D. Wash- 
burn Post No. 220, Grand Army of the Republic. His grandfather, William 
Burnett, was a soldier under General Jackson at New Orleans. 



JOHN \V. REDMAN. 



The efforts of John W. Redman, well known furniture dealer and under- 
taker at Dana, Indiana, and formerly joint representative to the Indiana Legis- 
lature, have proven of the greatest value to his fellow citizens as well as to 
himself. He has shaped his career along worthy lines, and his efforts have 
been discerningly directed along well defined channels of endeavor. He is a 
man of distinct individuality, of marked sagacity, of undaunted enterprise, 
and in manner he is genial, courteous and easily approached. His career has 
ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the business world 
and his activity in industrial, commercial and civic circles forms no unimport- 
ant chapter in the history of Vermillion county. 

Mr. Redman was born in Helt township, \'ermillion county, Indiana, 
January 25, 1855. He is a son of Wesley and Martha ( Wishard ) Redman, 
the father a native of Virginia and the mother of Kentucky. Wesley Redman 
was young in years vhen he came with his father and settled in Helt township, 
this county, two and one-half miles east of Dana, where the familv became 
well established and well known. The father of the subject devoted his life 
to general farming" and stock raising. His death occurred in 1835, when his 
son, John W., was but nine months old. The mother survived until October 
8, 1866, passing away when the subject was eleven years old. Two children 
were born to Wesley Redman and wife, Margaret J., who married J. P. ^Merri- 
weather, is deceased, and John W., of this review. 

John W. Redman was educated in the common schools of Helt town- 
ship, also spent one year in Bloomingdale Academy and three months in a com- 
mercial college at Terre Haute. He began life for himself as a general farmer, 
which he continued several years, then went into the furniture and undertak- 
ing business at Dana, which he has continued with c\-er-increasing success to 
the present time, having been thus engaged since Julv 20. 1876. He draws 
his customers from over a verv wide territorv. He ahva\s carries an excellent 



I'AKKE AND \'1-.KM I l.l.IOX COLXTIES, INDIANA. 555 

and up-to-date line of funiilure, and promptness and high grade service as ai> 
undertaker is his aim. 

Mr. Redman was married on xXovember i^, 1877, lu Alana Taylor, 
daughter of Samuel and Nancy E. (^Henderson) Taylor. The lather died in 
1869. The mother, who makes her home with the subject, has attainetl the 
advanced age of ninety-two years, and is in very good health. 

Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Redman, Charles \V"., 
born December 10, 1878, died August 8, 1886, when six years old, and Claude 
M., born October 2j, 1880, married Essie Pauley, daughter of W. H. I'auley 
and wife; two children have been born to them, Edward, whose birth occurred 
on October 27, 1903, and Francis, who was born on June 5, njob. 

Mr. Redman has always taken a deep interest in public affairs, and has 
been an intiuential factor in the Democratic party in this localit}- for more 
than a quarter of a century. He was postmaster at Dana during Cleveland's 
first administration, from April, 1885, to June, 1889. He was elected joint 
representative from Vigo, \'ermillion and Sullivan counties in 1892, and 
served one term, during which he did much for the good of this section and 
made his influence felt for the general good. As a public servant he ever dis- 
charged his duties in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to 
the eminent satisfaction of his constituents. 

Fraternally, Mr. Redman is a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias; also l>elongs to 
the Modern Woodmen of America, all at Dana. Tn religious matters he holds 
membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. 



EDWARD JONES. 



In such men as Edward Jones, well known mine expert of Clinton town- 
ship, \ermillion county, there is peculiar satisfaction in oft'ering their life 
histories as justification for the compilation of works of this character — not 
that their lives have been such as to gain them particularly wide notoriety or 
the admiring plaudits of men, but that they have been true to the trusts re- 
posed in them, ha\e show^n such attributes of character as entitle them to the 

regard of all. 

Mr. Tones was born in Clay City, Clay county. Indiana, .\ugust t8, 
1878, and he is a son of lulward Jones, Sr.. and Susan 1 SiionnnKirc ) J^nes, 



556 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

the father a native of Wales and the mother of Kentucky. The elder Mr. 
Jones spent his early life in his native country, but desiring a land of greater 
opportunities, he came to America in 1867 and located in Brazil, Indiana, 
where he follow ed the mines in various capacities for some time, then came to 
Parke county, this state, about 1884, settling at Sand Creek, where he con- 
tinued w ith the mines. His family consisted of eight children, namely : Ellen, 
Kittie (who died when }Oung), Edward, of this sketch, Philip, Sadie, Will- 
iam, Thomas and Gertie. 

Edward Jones, Jr., grew up under the parental roof-tree and recei\ed a 
common school education. Early in life he turned his attention to mining and 
has continued to follow the same in various pliases of endeavor. At this 
writing he is mine boss for J. K. Deering & Company, who own and operate 
No. 3 Klondike mine, which has a capacity of two thousand tons of coal daily 
and is one of the valuable mines of Vermillion county. Mr. Jones is respon- 
sible for everything in the mine, men, mules, equipment, etc. He is giving 
eminent satisfaction in this connection and is regarded as a most faithful and 
efficient employe b\- the owners. 

Mr. Jones was married on August 29, 1899. to Azuba Barron, daughter 
of Frank and Alice (Lewis) Barron, both natives of Virginia, from which 
state tjiey came to Parke county in an early day and settled here. They had 
seven children, namely: Aztiba, wife of the subject; Robert, Minnie. Rose, 
Elsie, Maud and ^^'i!liam. The subject has no children. 



JAMES NEWTON ARTHUR. 

The enterprise of James Newton Arthur, the efficient and well know-n 
young engineer in the mining region of Vermillion county, has been crowned 
by success as the result of rightly applied principles, which never fail in their 
ultimate effect when coupled with integrity, uprightness and a congenial dis- 
position, as the^■ have evidently been done in the present instance, judging 
from the high standing of Mr. Arthur among his fellow citizens whose un- 
divided esteem he has justly won and retained among a wide ac(|uaintance in 
Clinton township. 

Mr. Arthur was born in Greene county, Indiana, March 5, 1881, and he 
is a son of Peter and Nancy Arthur, both born in Indiana, where they were 
reared, educated an<l married and made their liome, for the most part, in 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 557 

Greene county, but the later part of their lives was spent in V igo and SuUivaii 
counties. They became the parents of three children, namely : Noah E., 
Charles F., and James Newton, of this sketch, the latter being the youngest of 
the fannly. 

The subject grew to manhood under the parental roof-tree, spending his 
boyhood days in Sullivan and Vigo counties and he received a practical edu- 
cation in the public schools. 

Mr. Arthur was married on Decemlier 22, 1905, to Myrtie Pearl Clark, 
daughter of Nathan and Louisa Clark, a highly respected family of their 
neighborhood. To the subject and wife four children have been born, namely : 
Earl died when a little over a year and a half old; the second child died in 
infancy; Effie and Mamie are both at home. 

Mr. Arthur has devuted his life, principally, to mining engineering, and 
has become an expert in mining machineiy, understanding well every phase of 
modern machinery of mines. He is a close observer, has much natural ability 
and he has kejjt well read on his chosen subjects, thus being conversant with 
every department of the same. He has filled with success various positions 
about the mines and at present he is engineer of No. 3 Klondike mine, owned 
by J. K. Deering. He is responsible for all the machinery in lliis big mine, 
which has a capacity of two thousand tons of coal daily, his duties being \ery 
responsible and requiring close attention. He makes a daily inspection of all 
the machinery, and he is regarded by his employer as one of the most trust- 
worthy and efficient men in this mine. In religious matters Mr. .\rthur be- 
longs to the Methodist church. 



JAMES GARFIELD DUGGER. 

Although named for a President, James Garfield Dugger will doubt- 
less never be the chief executive of the L^nited States, or a leader in states- 
manship in any wa\- ; but, nevertheless, he is filling and will continue to fill 
well his niche in the world's affairs and will therefore perform his allotted 
task just the same as if he had been destined by Fate to be a leader of men in 
the political arena, for all good work is commendable, no matter in what line 
of endeavor or bv whom performed. So hie succeeds in this world who does 
well and conscientiously what he finds to do. 

Mr. Dugger, who is one of the best engineers in the mining section of 
Vermillion county, was born in Clinton township, this county, on .\pril 15, 



558 PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

1881, and is ihc son of James A. and Margaret .(^Stoverj Dugger. The ma- 
ternal grandparents of the subject were among the early settlers of \'ennillion 
county, and here James A. Dugger has spent his later life engaged in gen- 
eral farming and stock raising, in which he has been successful. He and his 
wife were both born in Tennessee, in which state they grew to maturity and 
were married and there they continued to reside until 1865, when they moved 
to Vermillion county, locating in Helt township. The mother of the subject 
was called to her eternal rest in 1886. The father is still living in Clinton. 

Twelve children were born to James A. Dugger and wife, namely: Will- 
iam, Charles, Lem, Lillian, Samuel. Lewis, James Garfield (the subject), 
Da\"id, Florence, Clara. ^IcKinley, and one child who died in infancy. 

The subject grew to manhood in his native community and when of 
proper age assisted with the general work on the home farm during the sum- 
mer months, and in the winter time attended the public schools. On ]u\v 30. 
HJ04. he was united in marriage to Christina Morgan, daughter of A. E. and 
Hannah (Henderson) Morgan, both natives of Vermillion county, Indiana, 
where they grew up and were married. Three children have been born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Dugger, named as follows: James, Louise and Mabel. 

Mr. Dugger has been a student of engineering for some time and has 
become an expert in his line. He is at present holding a very responsible posi- 
tion as engineer of Crown Hill mine No. 4. one of the best equipped and 
up-to-date mines in the Clinton district, operated by electricity, with all mod- 
ern machinery. His duties as engineer consist in hoisting coal, taking care of 
all the machinery in the mine, engines, boilers, etc.. having general supervision 
of the machinery end of this great mine. He has performed his work in a 
most able and acceptable manner to his employers. Mr. Dugger is a member 
of the Baptist church. 



TOHN O. WALTER. 



One of the most efficient and energetic mining engineers of \'ermillion 
county, Indiana, is John O. Walter, a man who early in life began following 
the mines and made this special phase of mining his careful study so that he 
has become very proficient in his line and his services have been in great de- 
mand. He is at present holding a very important position with one of the 
Crown Hill mines, and is giving his employers eminent satisfaction. 

Mr. Walter was bom on Tanuarv 16. 1882. two miles west of Clinton. 



PARKK AM) N'KKMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 559 

Indiana. He is a son of Charles F. and Mary (Foltzj Walter, the father a 
native of Indiana and the mother of Virginia. They are living in Clinton at 
this w riting, and seven of their children are still living. 

John O. Walter was reared in his native Gonimunity and he received his 
education in the common schools, where he applied himself very closely to 
his text books and received a very practical knowledge of general things, lay- 
ing the rudiments of an education which has since been broadened by home 
reading and by actual contact with the world. 

On April ii, 1908, JMr. Walter was married to Maggie Scott, who was 
born December 8, 1888, east of Brazil. Indiana, and there she grew to woman- 
hood and was educatied in tlie common schools and her parents were well 
known in that community. Two children have been born to the subject and 
wife, namely: Anna Maw Ijorn January 16, u)Oi). and \Mlliam Wayne, born 
September 9, 1911. 

Mr. Walter began life as an engineer, starting at hoisting when about 
eighteen years of age and he has since advanced steadily in his chosen field, 
and is at this writing engineer for Crown Hill Mine No. 6, Clinton township, 
which position he has held for the past two years, the manifold duties of 
which he has discharged most faithfully and acceptably to the owners, keeping 
evervthing in first class shape and looking after their interests as if they were 
his own. He has saved his money and owns his own neat home in West 
Clinton. Politically, he is a Progressive, and fraternally, he belongs to the 
Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 217, at Clinton, and the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 356. also at Clinton. 



JOHN WATTERS. 

Throughout the mining districts of Vermillion county are to be found 
many who claim as their native land the bonny heaths of Scotland. All who 
are conversant with their work and habits of life will agree that there are no 
better or more trustworthy men following the mines here, for they are most 
willing workers, are quick of perception and can be depended upon at all times. 
Thev are known to be people who do well whatever they attempt and they 
who have chosen mining as their life work have taken all possible pains to 
learn it thoroughly and to keep well up-to-date all the while. 

Among this number deserving special mention here is John Waiters, who 



560 PARKE AKD VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

holds the responsible position of nunc boss of Crown Hill Aiine No. 5, in 
Clinton township, one of tlie best and largest mines in the district. He was 
born in Scotland, December 30, 1857, and is a son of James and Jennet (^Fer- 
gesonj Watters, natives of Scotland, in which country they grew up, were 
married and spent their earlier lives, and from there they came to America 
in 1879, locating at Clay City, Indiana, where the father followed the mines, 
and there his death occurred some time ago. The mother of the subject is 
still living, having now attained the ripe old age of seventy-hve years. She 
makes her home with the subject and his brotlier James. 

Three children were born to James Watters and wife, namely: John, 
subject of this sketch; James, Jr., who lives in Clinton township, Vermillion 
county ; Mary, who married Ebenezer Dick, of Coalmont, Indiana. 

John Watters came to America in 1878, a year before his father came. 
He landed in Quebec, Canada, but later came on to Braidwood, Illinois, where 
he remained some time, then came to Clay county, Indiana, and from there to 
Clinton, V^ermillion county, about 1909, and here he has since remained. Early 
in life he began following the mines and this he has continued, being at this 
writing boss of Crown Hill Mine No. 5, in Clinton township, this county. It 
is two years old. is one hundred and eighty feet deep, with a capacity of thir- 
teen hundred tons daily. It is equipped to handle two thousand tons daily, 
and one hundred and forty men are employed. It is one of the best and most 
valuable mines in Vermillion county. Mr. Watters is responsible for the 
entire working of this mine, below ground. He has everything under a superb 
system and the daily work is carried out without a hitch. He carefully in- 
spects whatever pertains to the mine, taking air measurements once a week, 
as the law prescribes, and keeps exerything in first class condition. 

Fraternally, Mr. Watters is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, 
of Clay City, Indiana, and of the Knights of Pythias. He has remained un- 
married. 



FRANK P. CRISTY. 



Early in life Frank P. Cristy was taught a valuable lesson and that was 
to do well w^hatever he attempted and that has been, no doubt, the secret of 
his success in life, and that is the reason that he is today in charge of one of 
the best and most extensive mines in the ^^ermillion district, where he is giv- 
ing the utmost satisfaction, for he has everything under a superb system. 



PAKKE ANU VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 36 1 

Mr. Cristy was burn in Tuscarawas county, Oliiu, June 6, 1854, ihc sun 
of John and Alary Ann ;^ Black) Crist)-. The father was born in the same 
county and state as was the subject and there he Uved until 1873, \\hen he 
came to Brazil, Indiana, and established the future home of the famih . w inch 
consisted of six children, nanicl}- : Sarah Ann, Isaiah and William !•".., all li\e 
at Mineral City, Ohio; Jemima is deceased; Jeremiah is also deceased; Frank 
P., of this sketch ; Clara was the youngest in order of birth. 

luhn CristN was married a second time, and one child was born of the 
la^i union, h.ua. The death uf John Crist\- occurred at Brazil when si.xty 
years of age. • 

Frank P. Cristy received his education in the common schools, and u|mhi 
reaching manliood he was united in marriage to Emma Rosa Belle Williams, 
on .Npril 7, 1875, daughter of Nathan and .Mary (Ballard) Williams. To the 
subject and wife one child has Ijcen liDrn, I'earl, who married M . 15. Scott, of 
Clinton, Indiana. 

Mr. Cristy has followed the mmes all Ins life, and he is now mme boss 
of |. K. Deering Mine No. j. which has a (lei)th of one hundred and si.xtx-fnur 
feet and a capacity of eight hun<lred tons daily. Mr. Cristy opened this mine 
in August, .1908, and there has ne\ er been an accident of any kind in it. It is 
regarded as i)ractically a new mine. Mr. Christy has managed the s;ime in a 
manner that has reflected nnich credit upon his ability and to the entire satis- 
faction of all concerned, for he understamls thoroughly every phase of the 
mining business, haxing kept well up to date in all that pertains to this line of 
endeavor, and he keejjs ever\ thing under close observation, taking no chances 
and running no risks of any kind. 

Mr. Cristv is a member of the I'resbvterian church. 



W ll.l.l \.\l DbA'oX.M.n. 

.\ltbough Wales is a small country and much of it is so rugged that it 
cannot be inhabited, yet she has produced a sturdy, splendid race of people, 
large numbers of whom, failing to lind proper opportunities there, have come 
to the Cnited States and have here become worthy and successful citizens, 
being law-abiding, thrifty and honest, so that we have always welcomed them 
and given them >uch advantages as were appreciated and made the most of l)y 
them. One of this band is Willi;im Devonald. well known in the mining sec- 

(36) 



562 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

tion of Vermillion count}, a man who has benefited alike himself and us dur- 
ing his residence of nearl)- a quarter of a century in this locality. 

Mr. Devonald was born in Wales, March 10, 1856, and is a son of Tim- 
othy and Dorothy ( Davis j Devonald, both natives of Wales, in which country 
they grew up, were married and there established their permanent home. The 
father, who \\as a skilled \eterinary surgeon, spent his entire life in that coun- 
try, practicing his profession up to the time of his death, at the advanced age 
of eighty-four years, in January, 1910. The mother of the subject is still 
living in Wales, being now advanced in years. 

William Devonald grew to manhood in Wales and received his schooling 
there, in 1887, when thirty-one years of age, he left his native heath and 
crossed the great Atlantic to America, landing at the cit_\ of Philadelphia. 
h'rom there he came west to Brazil, Indiana, then went to Caseyville, that 
state, later going to Rosedale, from which town he came to Clinton. \'er- 
million county, in 1889. He followed the mines in \arious capacities until 
1893. when he took up the, shale business, which he followed with success 
until ii)0(). when he returned to the mines and has cuntiniied in tliis line of 
endeavor to the present time. He is at this writing mine boss of Oakhill 
Mine No. i, which position he is filling to the utmost satisfaction of his em- 
ployers. He is responsible for the entire working of tlie mine. 

Mr. Devonald was married in Wales in 1S86 to Given Jones, daughter of 
John and Cecelia Jones, both of whom are deceased. They spent their lives 
in Wales, of which they were natives. Mr. Jones was engaged in the butcher 
business. To the subject and wife four children ha\e been born, namely: 
David Higgon and Dorothv. bntli at home, and two children who died in 
chilflhood. 



FRED ALFRED GREGG. 

The gentleman whose name introduces this review is a worthy descendant 
of two of the excellent old families of the middle West, and he seems to have 
inherited from these sterling ancestors many of the personal traits of character 
that win in the great battle of life which each mu.st fight according to his en- 
\ironment and the way in which Fate is pleased to dictate. Fred .\lfred 
Gregg, well known throughout the mining district of \^ermillion county, has. 
while yet a young man, succeeded in making an admirable start. He was 
born in \'ermillion couniy. Indiana. September 2(1. 1882. and is a son of John 



PARKE AXh X'KKM ll.l.ioy {(ir N" TIKS, INDIANA. 5^)3 

E. and Miriam (^l.ewisj (ircgg. tlic lather a native of Kenlucky and the 
mother of Ohio. John E. Gregg grew up in the Blue Grass state and there 
spent his earher years, tinally coming to Parke county, Indiana, where he es- 
tabhslied the permanent home of tiie family. He devoted his hfe to agricul- 
tural pursuits. He enlisted in 1863 in the Seventy-first Indiana XOlnuteer 
Infantry and while a member of the same was captvned. After his release he 
re-enlisted in Compan\ K, I'"ort\-lhird Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which 
he served over two years, or until the close of the war, being mustered out in 
June, 1865, at Indianapolis, Indiana. After his discharge from capture he re- 
joined his first regiment, but was discharged on account of sickness. It was 
upon his reco\ery that he went into another regiment. 

Eight children were born to John E. Gregg and wife, namely: Minnie. 
Alice, William, Marvin, Fred .\., of this sketch; Jessie. l'"ernie and .Marcus 
are both deceased. 

The death nf John K. Gregg occurred on April _■_>. kji i. at the age of 
sixtv-six vears. His widow is still living near Dana. Indiana, lieing now 
sixtv-seven years old. 

Fred A. Gregg grew up on his father's farm and there worked wlien a 
boy. He received his education in the ])ublic schools of his community. On 
February 26. 191 2. he was united in marriage to Essie Hays, daughter of 
Perry and Ida Hays. 

Mr. Gregg is top lioss of the J. K. Heering Mine. Xo. 3 Klondike, which 
has a depth of three hundred feet, and is equipped to handle two thousand 
tons of coal daily. The shaft was sunk in 180.^. He has given eminent sat- 
isfaction in this responsible position, understanding well every i)ha.se of coal 
mining. 

Fraternally. Mr. Gregg is a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, and politicallv he is a Progressive. 



Gia^RGl-: W. STUETZ. 



One of the most progressive agriculturists and stock men of X'ermillion 
county is George \V. Stultz. who has spent i)ractically all of his life in his 
home community. l)elieving that here existed better opportunities than could 
be found ehsewhere. and he has ever had at heart the interests- of his county 
which he has sought to aid in any way he could. Thus, while laboring to 



564 PARKE AND \ERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

adxance his own interests, he has done much toward promulgating the civic, 
industrial afld moral tone of the community. Among other things he has 
helped develop the coal industry here. His career has been one uf hard work 
and integrity, ct)nsequently he is (leser\-ing of the resjiect in which he is held 
by everyone. 

Mr. Stultz was Ijorn in Clinton township, N'ermillion count}', Indiana, 
October 29, 1841, and he is a son of Solomon and Zena Ann (Groves) Stultz. 
The father was horn in X'irginia, from which state he came to \"ermillion 
county, Indiana, as early as 1830. when the country was practically a wilder- 
ness and settlers were few . He located the permanent home of the family in 
Clinton township. In that place and on that year, George Stultz, the paternal 
grandfather of the subject, also located. He too was born in \'irginia. and 
he brought the father of the subject here when he was fifteen years of age. 
He had the following children: Moses is deceased: Solomon, father of the 
subject: Joseph and Lucinda are lioth deceased; Elizabeth li\es in lulgar 
county. Illinois; I'olh' .\nn. deceased; James and Melinda are l)oth deceased. 
The father of the abo\e named children devoted his life to farming, and he 
became well known to the early settlers of this county, and here he developed 
a good farm by hard work and jiersistent application, and on that i^lace 
Solomon Stultz. nientioncil abo\e. grew up and he also dexdted his life to 
farming with success. 

George W. Stultz, of this sketch, grew up on the home ])lace and there 
be assisted with the general work when a boy, and he received his education 
in the scIkxjIs of his township, which was verx' limited; in fact, he did not 
attend school but about six months, having been comiiclled to go to work 
for a livelihood when but a Ixty. He went to CliiUon one month and there 
learned more than during all the rest of his bovhood. Ibiwever. he became 
an educated man, for he has alvvavs been a wide re;ider ;md a close observer. 
He began life for himself bv working bv the month at twelve dollars ])er 
month. On Octol)er 25, 1863, he was married to Sarah Clark, daughter of 
James and Serena (Bright) Clark, she being one of five children, namely: 
Joseph is deceased; Sarah, wife of Mr. Stultz; Cordelia, who married John 
J. Martin; James, who lives in Clinton township, this county: Susan F.llen 
was the youngest. The father of the above named children came from Ohio 
in a very early dav and i^urchased one hundred and sixty acres from a 
gentleman who had entered it from the government, ami he followed farming 
during his life time. This farm is now owned bv the subject of this sketch, 
he being the iiossessor of the original deed and the third owner from the 



I'AKKI-; AXD \'I-:U.\I ll.l.IOX COr.XTlKS, INDIANA. ^()Z, 

government. Eiglit chililrcn Iia\e been horn to Mr. Stullz and wife, namely: 
Jx)uis M. and Charles A, are deceased; the third died in infancy: Samuel C. 
married Tillie T. Xefh : Lawrence E. is deceased: the next child died in 
infancy: 1 cna h'.llen is dcce.'ised : (ieor!;c R. married I'earl Teal and they li\e 
in the town of Clinton. 

Cieorge W . Strltz ha.^ followed farnnni; all his life and is still actively 
engaged: howexer. he now rents his place and dexotes his attention mainly 
to the coal mining indnstrw in which he has been \ cry successful, being the 
owner of one hundred and eighty acres of coal land, and there are two large 
mine-^ on his farm. Crown Mill Xos. i and 3. Me leased his coal at so much 
])er ton. and dues not acti\elv engage in nnning it himsell. llow:e\er. he 
has hehied deNeloj) the coal of lhi> locality. Me has been most successful in 
a business wa\- and has laid b\' a haiids<ime com])ctency for his declining years. 
Me was township trustee for four years, from 1 SSj to 188'). l'~ratenially, he 
is a member of the Independent Order of Odd h'ellow s. Me belongs to the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 

Immediately upon the commencement of the Ci\il war Mr. Stultz offered 
his services to the Eederal government, enlisting in Company M, Sixtcentii 
Indiana Volunteer Infantrx , in .\])ril. 1861. and he served in the .\rmy of the 
Cumberland, .seeing much hard service, but he jjroved to lie a faithful and 
gallant defender of the Stars and Stripes, no matter how arduous or danger- 
ous the task a.ssigned. He participated in the battles of Winchester and 
Harper's Ferrv. and other hotly contested engagements. He was honorablx 
discharged in Washington, D. C. He is a member of the I'. R. Owen I'ost. 
flrand .\rm\- of the Republic, at Clintuu. and takes much interest in the same. 



LEONID. \S OR.VKE. 



l''or a period of thirty years Leomdas Drake has labored with pronounced 
success among the jieople of X'ermillion county and during that time he has 
won a host of friends here by his industry, honesty and public spirited acts. 
He is well known throughout this locality and is prominent in fraternal and 
social affairs. 

Mr. Drake was l)orn in Paulding county. Ohio, .\pril 4. 1866. and he 
is a .son of John and Corintha (Chai)man) Drake, both natives of the state 
of New York, being earlv settlers in Paulding county. Ohio. Grandmother 



566 PARKE AND NERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Elmira (Ellis j Chapman w as one of the hrst settlers in the last named locality, 
the family ha\ing been compelled to make their own roads in penetrating 
into Paulding county, the country at that time being a wilderness and the 
home of Indians and but few white people. 

Leonidas Drake was the eldest son of a family of three, the other two 
being, Arminda, who married Edward McMahan, of Noblesville, Indiana. 
She was a school teacher before marriage, and had the honor of being the 
youngest person in Indiana ever receiving a teacher's license. Lecta Elmira 
maried Ripley Craig, a cual miner of Clinton, Indiana. John Drake was a well 
known timber contractor, shipping timber all over the country. His death 
occurred in 1879. The mother of the subject died March 4, 1904, at the age 
of fifty-eight years. 

Leonidas Drake received only a meager education in the common schools, 
and in 1889 he was married to Emma Craig, daughter of Richard and 
Drexa Craig, early settlers of Vermillion county. Two children were born 
to the subject and wife, Myrtte, who married Garrett W'ooley, of Clinton, 
Indiana, and Daniel Drake. The subject was married a second time, his 
last wife being Stella Sweazey, daughter of Richard Sweazey and wife. The 
wedding occurred in 1897. Two children were also liorn of this union, 
Henry and Ethel, both at home. 

Mr. Drake came to \'erniillion cuuntv thirl}- years ago from Paulding 
county, Ohio, and he settled in the town of Clinton. He was a photographer 
and did excellent work, enjoying a good business in that line, which he fol- 
lowed here for six years, then took up paper hanging and coal mining and 
is still active as a paper hanger, having long been widely known in this work. 
He holds the record for the fastest paper hanger in Indiana, having placed 
one hundred and elex'en rolls in seven and one-half hours. In connection 
with this line he has conducted a grocery store for a number of years and 
has built up a good patronage in both. He was active as an organizer of the 
Knights of Labor, and has held all the offices in the L'nited Mine \\'orkers 
U]) to the district offices. The Knights of Labor are the same as the United 
Mine \\'orkers. He belongs to tlie Knights of Pythias at Clinton, L'nifonn 
Rank, Company 105, of Clinton. 

Mr. Drake is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has ac- 
complished in a business way, he being the onl}- man in Clinton who lia!> 
developed a good business entirely without assistance, and he has ever been 
a man of scrupulous honesty and integrity, so that he has ever had the 
confidence and good will of the people. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COL'NTIES, INDIANA. 567 

DANA !■'. W RIGHT. 

Among the successful agriculturists ut the younger generation oi na- 
tive sons of Vermillion county stands Dana 1"'. Wright, owner of a valuable 
and carefull}- tilled farm in Clinton township wiiere he is well known as a 
husbandman and stock raiser and as a public spirited citizen, a worth) repre- 
sentative of two of the old and highly honored families of this locality. 

Air. Wright was born in Clinton township, Vermillion county. Indiana, 
January 30, 1874, and he is a son of Lucius H. and Elizabeth (Porter) 
Wright. In early life the father removed to Iowa, where he remained for 
some time, then moved back to Indiana and devoted his life to agricultural 
pursuits, settling in Clinton township. N'ermillion county, where he re- 
mained the balance of his life. His family consisted of six children, namelx' : 
Jeanette, who married Frank Bumgardner, of Clinton township: Johanna 
and Lelia both live in Vigo county, this state; Bertha is deceased: Dana F. 
of this review: William is deceased. 

The father of the above named children was educated in the common 
schools of Indiana, though his early schooling was interrupted, for he was 
compelled to go to work when but a 1k)\, he being one of a family of eight 
children, and he had to assist his father clear and tend the hume farm and 
help make a living for the famil\-. During the Civil war he was a soldier 
in the Union army, having enlisted in Company C, Eighteenth Indiana \'olun- 
teer Infantry, early in the war, and he saw much hard service in the Army 
of the Cumberland, proving himself a lnyal and gallaiU soldier. The <leath 
of Lucius H. Wright occurred on December 13, 1901. at the age of sixty 
years. His widow is .still living, making her home in \'igo county, with her 
daughter: she is now- sixty-seven years of age. 

Dana F. Wright grew to manhood on the home farm an<l there he as- 
sisted with the general work about the place when he became of proper age. 
and he received his education in the common schools, attending the Clinton 
high school for a short time. After leaving school he took ui5 farming, in 
w-hich he has since been successfully engaged. He is now the ow ncr of a finely 
improved and verv productive farm of eighty acres in Clinton township, 
X^ermillion county, where he carries on general farming and stock raising 
and on which he has a very comfortable home and substantial outbuildings. 

Mr. Wright was married on .\ngust 29, 1899. to Glennie Reeder. 
daughter of Joseph A\'esk\ and Ann Elizabeth Reeder. a Iiighly respected 
and well known familv of this county. A complete history of the Reeder 



568 PARKE AND \ERMII.LIOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

faniiK' is contained in the sketch of X'alzah Reeder, appearing elsewhere in 
tliis work. 'I'wo children have been Ijorn to the snbject and wife, namely: 
Harold E.. born October 4. 1901, and Herschel O.. Ijorn [March y, 1905. 
They are both at home. Politically, Mr. Wright is a Republican, and in 
religious matters he belongs to the Methodist church. 



BENNIE EKXEST PIT.M.^X. 

One of the capable and trustworthy engineers of the X'ermillion count)' 
mining district is Bennie Ernest Pitman, who has forged to the front in his 
chosen calling as a result of rightly applied energ\- and jjrinciples. He has 
not onlv been a close student. l)ut also a close observer of all that j^ertains to 
his \ocation, with the result that he has kept up to date and full abreast of the 
times, always doing his work well and carefully, and never leaving for some 
one else that which he should do himself. 

Mr. Pitman was born in Parke county, Indiana. September 7. 1879, and 
he is the son of Benjamin F. and .Mary E. (Cox) Pitman, the father a native 
(if I'arke countv. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Pitman, was born in Penn- 
svlvania. from which state be came direct to Parke county, Indiana, locating 
in .\dams township, where he followed farming the rest of his life. He was 
among the earlv .settlers there and be developed his ])Iace from the woods. 

I'Vnir children were born to Benjamin I''. Pitman and wile, namely: Fred 
1)., who lives in Montgomery county: liennie F., of this review: Love Isa is 
decea,se(l : Claude W. lives in Parke county. 

Bennie !•;. Pitman grew to manhood in his native community and re- 
ceived bis education in the Parke county schools. When but a boy be turned 
his attention to engineering, which he has followed all his life. He served his 
:il)])renticeship at Craw ford & McCrimmon's, Brazil, Indiana. He is at present 
master mechanic at Crown Hill mines Nns. i and 3, Vermillion county, near 
Clinton, his duties being in full charge of all machinery in both mines. He is 
responsible for all working ])arts outside of the electrical department. He 
makes frequent inspections and must know the condition of all machinery at 
all times. He has discharged his duty in a manner that has reflected much 
credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of his employers. 

Mr. Pitman was married on Januarx 1. iP!c)R, to Hattie E. Cox, daugh- 
ter of .\11)ert and Marv E. (Rush^ Cox, both natives of \^ermillion county. 



I'AKKE A.\|) \ I'-.KiMll.l.IOX CXHXTIKS, IXDIAXA. :^69 

Indiana. I'uur children were born to Albert Cox and wife, nanielv : I'earlie, 
Charles, Hattie (Mrs. I'itnianJ, and Edith, who is deceased. lM\e children 
have been born to Air. and .Mrs. I'itnian, named as follows: Phila, Walter, 
Cyrus, Hortense and Ernest, all at home. 

l''raternally, Mr. I'itman is a member of the Modern W ooilmen of .Ameri- 
ca, and in religious matters he belongs to the Christian church. 



HEXRV FERGUSON. 

Inheriting nianv of the characteristics traits of his slurd)- Scotch ances- 
tery, Heiu'y berguson, well known throughout the mining region of \'er- 
niillion county, has succeeded at his life work l)ecause he has worked hartl, 
persistently and honestl)- and has alwaxs done well whate\-er he undertook, 
so that he has always had the conhdence of his employers and his associates. 

.Mr. i'erguson was Ijorr. in Scotland, Januai'\' j, iSo^. lie is a son of 
Dougal and .Sarah ( Lampbell ) l-'erguson, both nati\es of Scotlan<l. in which 
country they were reared and married and there spent the major parts of their 
li\es, tinalh . in 1909, coming to tlie Cnited States nn a \ isit and while here 
the father's death occurred at Saginaw. .Michigan, at the ad\anced age of 
eighty \ears. 'Ihe UKither passed awa\ ni I 'enusyh ania when sesenty years 
old. 'i'hey were an honest, hanl-wcjrkiug and highly respected old coujjie who 
clung to their Scottish traditions and customs to the last. They became the par- 
ents of nine children, named as follows: John, .\nnie, llenry, of this sketch: 
.\rchie. lames: Mar\ |;uie and .Sarah are Imlli deceased: Dougald, and one 
who died in intancy. 

Henrv Ferguson grew to manhood in Scotland and receixed his educa- 
tional training there. In 18S3. when twenty-one years old. he emigrated to 
.\merica, landing at Xew ^■clrk City, and from there be came we-t to lshi)em- 
ing. Michigan, where lie followed the mines, then went tn Streator. l.asalle 
countv, Illinois, where he remained awhile, then came on to Clinton, Indiana, 
and he has been in the mining business in N'ermillion county ever since. He 
opened Crown Hill Mine No. 5 and made it .m success, with a record of ;m 
average of one thousand, one hundred and si\ty-li\e tons (|;iily in a year, from 
the time the shaft was opened. This is indeed a splendid record and indicates 
that Mr. Fergu.son understands thoroughly every phase of tiie mining business 
and that he also knows how to handle men and look after everv detail of a 



570 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

mine. He is at this writing engaged in opening Crown Jrliil Aline No. 0, of 
which he is mine boss, and in which capacity he is giving entire satisfaction to 
his employers, and is regarded by them as ever being entirely trustworth) 
and capable. 

Mr. P'erguson was married in 1892 to Marie Waldron, daughter of 
John and Nancy (Dailby) Waldron, both natives of Ireland, in which coun- 
try they grew up and were married, and from there emigrated to iVmerica 
some fifty years ago and settled at Ishpeming, Michigan, Mr. Waldron having 
worked for one company all that time. On account of iifty years of faithful 
service he draws a substantial pension. Two children ha\e been born to Mr. 
Ferguson and wife, namely : Lawrence and Austin, both at home. 



JAMES SHIRKIE. 



From the far-away bonny land of heath and bluebell, the land of Burns 
and Bruce, the land of the thistle and the rose, hails James Shirkie, well known 
throughout the mining district of V^ermillion county. He is the possessor 
of many of the traits that win, such as his countrymen have always been 
noted for. Like the typical Scot, he is a man of thrift, persistence, courage 
and honesty and he has made a success of life since casting his lot with 
Americans and, while laboring for his advancement and that of his family, 
has at the same time so conducted himself as to gain and retain the friend- 
ship of those with whom he has come into contact. 

Mr. Shirkie was born in Ayreshire, Scotland, October 31, 1875, and 
he is a son of Robert and Mar\- ( Thompson ) Shirkie, natives of Scotland, 
in which country they grew up, were married and established their permanent 
home, but, seeking greater opportunities for himself and family, he emi- 
grated to the LInited States in 1884 when the subject was nine years of age. 
The family landed in New York City, but soon came on to Youngstown, 
Ohio, where the father followed mining. From there they went to Brad- 
wood, Illinois, where he continued in the mining business, finally coming 
to Clinton, Indiana, and followed the mines here man}' x'ears. His death 
occurred in 1910, at the age of seventy years. 

Ten children were born to Robert Shirkie and wife, named as follows: 
Mar)-, who lives in Kankakee, Illinois; Lizzie died in Scotland; Agnes and 
Maggie are both deceased; Edward lives in Kankakee. Illinois: Tames, of this 



I'ARKI-: A.\U NliRMll.LIOX fOL'NTIES, l.NDIAXA. 57 1 

review; Robert M. lixes in \ irginia ; Maggie (named atlev the deceased 
sister) ; Jessie li\'es in Kankakee, Illinois; and George, of Clinton, Indiana. 

James Shirkie grew to manhood in this country and received his educa- 
tion in the common schools. On May 30, 1900, lie was united in marriage to 
Eva Maddox, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Maddo.x. Mr. Shirkie 
has one child, L)a\'id, h\- a previous marriage. 

Early in life the subject took up mining, which he has continued to 
follow to the present time, lieing at present ])it lx)ss of the Oakhill Coal 
Company, at No. 5 mine in Clinton township, X'ermillion count)-. He under- 
stands every phase of mining and is discharging his e\ery duty in an able 
and acceptable manner. L'nder tlie state law he is resjionsible for e\'er\thing 
in the mine from the top to the bottom. He is compelled to measure the air, 
intake and exhaust, and also to sec that air circulates in the mine, and the 
pit boss is required to take a regular examination for mine boss. He looks 
after e\-ery detail of his work so that there is no hitch in the operations of 
this mine. 



WILLIAM LUKE HAYES. 

\\ illiam Luke Hayes was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, March 
29, i8_ii, the son of .Alfred and Nancy (Tliornell) Hayes, the father a na- 
tive of Kentucky and the mother was born in X^irginia. .Alfred Hayes came 
to Tippecanoe county, this state, in a very early day, locating there, but later 
came to Parke county, where he was married. He moved over into \'ermil- 
lion county in 1862, and here continued to make his home. He was a black- 
smith by trade, which he followed until after the war. then took up farming, 
which he followed until his death. During the Civil war period he was a 
member of the old Home Guards at Rockville, and he assisted in the cajjture 
of Morgan, the Confederate general, on his raid into Indiana. 

Twelve children were born to Alfred Hayes and wife, namely: The 
eldest died in infancy: Joshua L. is deceased; Louis, who was a jirivate in 
Companv F. Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, died at Louisville. Kentucky, during 
the Civil war; Cvrus Jefiferson is deceased; .Alfred \X.. who was a .soldier 
in CoTiipanv K. Fort\-lhird Indiana Volunteer Tnfantn,-, is deceased: Marion 
M. was also a soldier in Compan\- K, Forty-third Indiana A'oluntecr Infan- 
trv: William Luke, of this review; George M. lives in Brazil, Indiana: 
Charles E. deceased: Pcrrv M. lives in New Goshen. Indiana: Hettie m.-irried 



572 PARKE AND VERM II.I.IOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

Justice Akcrinann. of Odon, Jndiana. he ha\ing l>een a soldier in the Eiglity- 
tifth Indiana Vohmteer Jnfantr}-; L'arey is deceased. 

William L. Hayes grew to manhood on the home farm and there he 
assisted with the general work when of proper age, and in the winter time 
he attended the neighboring schools. He was not old enough to enlist for 
service in the Ci\il war, so he turned his attention to fanning, which voca- 
tion he has followed to the present time, being .still active, owning a produc- 
tive and well improved farm in Clinton township which he has operated 
most success full}- and now ranks with the best general farmers and stock 
raisers in this part of the countrv. 

Mr. Hayes was married on October 24, 1878, to Jose])hine Spicer, 
(laughter of llenjamin 1'", and Lucinda ( Spangier ) Spicer, the father a 
native of Virginia, in w hich state he grew up, married and reared his familv, 
coming to \'igo county. Indiana, after the Civil war. He located at the town 
of \ew (ioslien where he followed blacksmithing for some time, then turned 
his attention to merchandising which he followed until his death. 

l-'ive children were Ixirn to Benjamin F. Si)icer and wife, four of whom 
are still living, namely: William 11.. who has remained in N'irginia; .Marv 
1",., wdio mai'ried Logan Collier; Signora married ( ieorge Landis; losephine. 
wife of Mr. Hayes of this sketch; Louisa 1!., who marriefl .Mark \ oncannon ; 
.\da married James .Stewart. Five children ha\e l)een born to .Mr. Haxes 
and wife, named as follows: Okie, who married J. \\". ILarrison : Ora mar- 
ried Harry Henr\-; Bertha married i'Vank Rhoner ; William married Maggie 
Rosa: Ottie, who died when si.x years old. 

Politically. Mr. Hayes is a Progressi\e. but he has never been especiallv 
acti\e in public afifairs and has held no office. Fraternallv. he belongs to 
the lm])roved Orrler of Red Men at Clinton. He is a member of tlie I'nited 
Brethren church. 



H.-XRMOX K. MORGAN. 

An enumeration of the enterprising men of Vermillion county who ha\e 
won recognition and success for themselves and at the same time have con- 
ferred honor u;)on the community would be incomplete were there failure 
to make mention of the popular gentleman whose name initiates this review. 
Mr. Morgan holds worthy prestige in business circles, and has always been 
<listinctl\- a man of affairs and wields a wide intlueiice among those with 



I'ARKK AM) XKU.Mll.I.lON COLXTIKS. INDIANA, ^J ^ 

whom his lot has been cast, having won definite success and shown what a 
man w itli lofty i)rinciples, iionesty of purpose and determination can accom- 
plish while yet young in )ears. As a druggist he stands in the front rank 
of those who honor that calling in this section of the lloosier coninu^nweaUh 
and because of his industry, integrily and coui'tesy he is a man for whum 
the future holds much of promise and reward. 

Harmon K. Morgan was l)orn in \ igo countx, Indiana, near Xew 
Goshen, Xo\ember ii, 1883, lie is a son of Dr. John II, and Sadie .\l, 
(Wonner) JVlorgan. The fatiier was a native of \ irginia, from which state 
he came to \'igo county, huiiana, when a soung man, accompanied by his 
parents, the family settling near Xew ( iosiien and there the subject's father 
grew to manhood and received his early educaticjn in the common schools. 
He took up the study of medicine in Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, 
finishing the course there, after which he practiced several _\'ears at Xew 
Cioshen and in 1892 came to Chnton, Indiana, and practiced there with a 
large measure of success for a period of ten years, or until his death in Hj02. 
at the age of fifty-six years. The mother is still li\ing, making her home 
with her son, Harmon K,, of this review, he l)eing the x'oungesl of three 
children ; the other two were Carrie, the eldest, who died w hen twentx-three 
vears of age, and Helen, who is living at home. 

Harmon K, Morgan received his education in ihe conmicMi schools of 
Clinton, finishing high school in kjoj, then took up pharmacy, taking the 
course at- the Xorthwestern Cnixersity al Chicago, receiving his <legrce in 
K)03, 'He returned to Clinton soon afterwards and ])urchased the Walker 
Drug Companx", and has since maintained one of Clinton's leading and most 
popular drug stores at Xo. -'33 South Main street, having enjoyed a large 
and constantlv groxving trade with the town and surrounding country, carry- 
ing a large and carefully selected stock of drugs and drug sundries, his store Im?- 
ing modern in exerx- resjject and one that woulil be a credit to a city m\ich 
larger than Clinton, .\lr, Morgan has been very successful in a financial way 
and he is one of the directors of the First -X'ational Bank of Clinton, 

.\ man of genial and obliging disposition, he is a good mixer and is popu- 
lar with ilie ])eo]ile. Me is pulilic si)irited and supports such measures and 
movements as have for their object the general ui)l)uilding of his town and 
countv in ex'erv way. He is a. member of the school board of trustee^, being 
at present secretarv of the srnne his term being for three years. Religiously, 
he belongs to the Preshvterian church, and in tr.iternal matter-^ he belongs to 
the Free and .\ccei)ted Masons, the chapter and the commandery, all of Clin- 



574 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

ton, the consistory at Indianapolis and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles 
of the i\T}stic Shrine, Zara Temple, Terre Haute. He has been active and 
prominent in .Masonic aiYairs for some time, and. judging" from his daih- 
life, he tries to carr\- its sulilinie precejits into his relations with the world. 
:\Ir. Moryi'.n has remained unmarried. 



BROWX H. MORGAN. 

The name uf Brown H. Morgan, one of Clinton's substantial business 
men and leading merchants, needs no introduction to the people of Vermillion 
and Parke counties, for he has been one of our most active men of affairs 
for a period of thirty-six years, during which time he has played well his 
l^art as a citizen, supporting all measures that have l>een promoted fur the 
general good of the locality and his personal reputation has been such as to 
warrant the esteem and confidence of those with whom he has come into 
contact. 

Mr. Morgan was liorn in \'irginia, September 30, 1861, and lie is a 
son of William and Eliza (Flinn) Morgan, who spent their earlier vears in 
the Old Dnniinion, coming from that state to New Goshen, Indiana, on May 
ro, 1874, when tlie subject was thirteen years old. After remaining there 
two years, tliey removed to Clinton. \'erniilliMn county, where tlte parents 
spent the resl of their lives, the father dying in 1892 at the age of. sexenty- 
six }-ears, while the mother's death occurred in h)03 at the ad\-anced age of 
eighty-two years. 

Eight children were born to William Morgan and wife. namel\- : Sallie. 
who married William H. Kale; Mollie, wlio married John R. Hangar, he 
being now deceased; John H. is deceased; Eannie married John M. Karr; 
Eutie married Harrv F. Sheppard. he being now deceased; \ViIl)ur I'. D. is 
deceased; Maggie married Harry F, Shejipard, he lieing now deceased; 
Brown H., of this sketch, was the youngest child. 

The father of the above named children was a wagon-maker by trade, 
which hr followed until old age, spending the last ten or fifteen years of his 
life in retirement. 

Brown H. Morgan received a good common school education, and early 
in life he took up merchandising, which he has continued to follow to the 
present time, or for a period of thirty-six years, during which he has met 



PARKE AXD N'iCKMlLl.lOX COL'XTIKS, INDIANA. 375 

with ever-increasing success until he is at present the proprietor of Chnton"s 
largest store. He began his career on August 15, 1876, for A. L. Whitcomb, 
later buying out his employer. He enjoys a large trade with the city and 
county, his thousands of customers coming from a radius of manv miles, 
and he always carries a large and carefully selected stock of general merchan- 
dise. He has been \'en- successful m a financial v\ay, having, by his industry, 
able management and honest dealings with ihe public, i)uilt up unaided a 
splendid and rapidly growing business. He is a man of ])rogressive ideas, 
alert, far-seeing and yet plain and unassuming, a genial, companionable 
gentleman. He is a member of the board of directors of the First National 
Bank of Clinton. Politically, he is a Republican, l)ut has never l)een an 
aspirant for public ofiice. h^raternall}-, he Itelongs to the Independent Order 
of Odd h'ellows of Clinton, also the h'ree and .\ccepted }iTasons, the chapter 
and the conmmandery, and the Indianapolis Consistory, also the Alurat 
Temple, .\ncient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Intliau- 
ajiolis. In religious matters he is a Methodist. Mr. Morgan has remained 
luimarried. 



WILLIS A. SATTERLEE. 

It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career of a success- 
ful, self-made man who has made a success of life and won the honor and 
respect of his fellow citizens. Such is the record, brictly slated, of the well 
known and progressive gentleman whose name forms the caption of this arti- 
cle, than whom a more genial, public-spirited and popular man it would be 
difficult to find in local professional circles, Mr. Satterlee having for a num- 
ber of vears been successfulh' engaged in the pr.-icticc nt his jjrdtessidu at 
Clinton. In every relation of life he has proven true tt) e\ery trust reposed 
in him and no citizen of N'ermillion county is wurthier than he of the high 
esteem which he enjoys. 

Willis .\. Satterlee. the present able i)rnsecuting attorney for this judi- 
cial circuit, was born Fel)ruary 9. 1878, near Scotland, Illinois, lie is a son 
of Cyrus W. and Matilda (Griffith) Satterlee, the father a nati\e of Michi- 
gan and the mother of Oliio. They came to Clinton. Indiana, when their son, 
A\'illis .\., was two vears old; here they became very comfortably established, 
and here the elder Satterlee spent the rest of his life, dying in nyx). The 
mother is still living. Cvrus W. Satterlee engaged in the timber business and 



576 PARKE AND VERMII.MOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

farming in his active lite. His family consisted of the following children: 
George \\'. li\es in Clinton; W'illis A., of this sketch; Richard was next in 
order; and iwo died in infancy. 

W'illis .\. Satterlee was educated in the common schools of X'ermillion 
county and was graduated from the Clinton high school in 1900, then he took 
a course at the Vories Business College, Indianapolis, .\fter leaving school, 
he began his active career by engaging in the real estate and insurance busi- 
ness, stndx'ing law the meanwhile, and, making rapiil progress, was admitted 
to the bar December 20, 1909. at Newport, X'ermillion county, and he has 
since been successfulh' engaged in the practice of liis profession at Clinton, 
enjoying a large and constantly growing clientele. 

Mr. Satterlee was married m 1904 to Jessie h'oltz. daughter nf l)a\id F. 
and Alary ( Whitsell ) Foltz, who came from Virginia to Vigo county. Indiana, 
locating near .\ew (ioshen. b'our children have been horn to the subject 
and wife, namel\' : Rowena E., William .\lbert, bdorence B. and Jessie Vir- 
ginia. 

Mr. Satterlee has for some time been an inHuential factor in local public 
matters, being active in the ranks of the Democratic party, and he is at present 
incumbent of the office of prosecuting attorney for the fortv-sex'enth judicial 
circuit, inckiding I'arke and X'ermillion counties, having l)een elected m i<;iO 
for a term of two vears. In this im])iii'tant pusitinn he has been most success- 
ful, proving himself to be an able attorne}' and a safe and prudent public 
official He was alsi) probation officer for 1910 for X'ermillion countv. ha\ ing 
been appointed in October, 1909, his term expiring in December, iijio. He 
al.so gave eminent satisfaction in this office. FraternalK, he is a member of 
the Modern XX'oodmen of .Xmerica. and in relicious matters a Methodist. 



J. M. JOHNS. 

b'cw men in Parke countv occujjx- as prominent a position in ]jrofessional, 
industrial. pul)lic and social affairs as the well kncjwn and deserxedlv popular 
gentleman whose name introduces this article. His has been indeed a busy 
and a successful life and the record is eminenll\- worthv of ])erusal b\- the 
student who would learn the intrinsic essence of indi\idurilit\' and its in- 
fluence in molding ojjinion and in giving character and stability to a com- 
nninity. His many commendal)le personal traits of head and heart, coupled 




J. M. JOHNS. 



rAKKI-. AM) \ KKMll.l.lO.N COL'NTIKS, INDIANA. 577 

with his industry iiiid genuine vvurtii, make him a favorite in this locaHty 
and Mr. Johns merits the higli esteem in which he is uni\ersally held. 

J. Al. Johns, well known attorney and business man of Rockville, In- 
diana, was born in I'arke county, this state, February 25, 1869, the son of 
Jacob and Amanda (Rutterj Johns. The former was a native of Preble 
county, Ohio, and was a farmer all his life in Indiana, having come to Ibis 
state when a child with his father, John Johns, who located in Clay county 
and laid out the city of Brazil. The Johns family is of Scotch stock on the 
paternal side. Besides agriculture, John Jolnis followed merchandising for 
some time. The family name was originally John, the "s" being added a few 
generations ago. Grandfather Johns came from Clay county to Portland 
Mills, Parke county, later moving to Mansfield, this county, and there his 
death occurred. Jacob Johns continued to live in that vicinity, having bought 
a farm in Raccoon township, where he spent the rest of his life, dying there 
on April 16, 1S90. at the age of fifty-seven years. His family consisted of 
two children. J. M., of this re\iew, and John, who lives on the home place, 
near Bridgeton, Parke county, which is one of the best improved, produc- 
tive and desirable farms in the county. 

J. M. Johns, of this rexiew, was born in Raccoon township, nu the hduie 
farm, and there he assisted with the general work when a boy. He received 
his primary schooling in the rural schools, there being an exceptionally good 
country school near his home, and in this he took, among other studies, Latin 
and algebra. Later he attended the Friends Academy at Bloomingdale. Then 
he entered a commercial school at Indianapolis, at C. C. Koerner's College, 
from which he was graduated. In 1889 he entered the law office of Puett & 
Hadley in Rockville, buying Judge Hadley's interest when the latter mo\ed 
to \\'ashington, D. C, and formed the partnership of Puett. .\dams & Johns, 
which continued one year, wdien Mr. Johns withdrew and began ])racticing 
alone and he has thus continued for a period of twenty years. He has built 
up a large and lucrati\e clientele and stands in the front rank of his pro- 
fession in Parke county and this section of the state. He has long been a 
familiar figure in the important cases of the local courts, and he is regarded 
as a painstaking, earnest and trustworthy advocate, and a man who has the 
ability to wield a great influence over a jury. He has remained a close st\i- 
dent of all that pertains to his profession. 

Mr. Johns was married on November r6. 1892. to Carrie Aydelotte. 
daughter of T^^hn and Cvnthia T Bracken ridge) Aydelotte. .'^be is a descen- 



578 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

daiit of the noted Kentuck\- Breckenridge faniil}-, a branch of which located 
at Rockville, Indiana, and here became prominent. One child has been born 
to the subject and wife, Katharine. 

Air. Johns has been very successful in a hnancial way, and he is interested 
in the manufacture of vault molds, being president of the Egyptian Vault 
Mold Company, which has long carried on an extensive business over the 
country, having plants in many cities, and its great success ,has been due very 
largely to the able management, wise foresight and keen business discern- 
ment of the subject. 

Mr. Johns is one of the ten men whose enterprise gave Rockville its 
splendid new opera house. He is a stockholder in the Electric Light and 
Starter Company of Indianapolis. Mr. Johns was chairman of the local com- 
mittee that constructed the first concrete pavement and country road in west- 
ern Indiana. This was accomplished Ijy organizing the propertv owners in 
mutual agreement without process of law. This was on Howard avenue, 
Rockville. Mr. Johns gave freely of his time to push this to successful com- 
pletion, and to him is due much credit for this splendid enterprise. Mr. 
Johns belie\-es this will eventually be the model method of road construction 
of the future. 

Mr. Johns has long been very active in Republican politics, and he was 
chairman of the fifth district committee that selected delegates to the national 
convention at Chicago in 191 2. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of 
Pythias, the Modern Woodmen and the Improved Order of Red Men. He is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is generally conceded to 
be one of the most public spirited and progressive men of Rockville, a man 
w ho puts his shoulder to the wheel and does things. Personally, he is a gen- 
ial, obliging genteel gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet. 



MARK ^^^ LYDAY. 



A great essayist long ago said. "When one has gi\en the liest that is in 
him to a work, he experiences satisfaction." While this statement may seem 
rather broad, yet a greater truth than this was never written. Whether one is 
successful or not in what one undertakes, if he realizes that nothing on his 
part has been left undone, he should have no regrets. This does not mean 
that the unsuccessful person feels just as good over defeat as the successful 



I'ARKK AND XKKMII.I.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 579 

over victory. When uiiu docs his best and is successful he has a double reason 
to be happ)-. To this class belongs Mark W. Lyday, one of the best known 
and most successful of the younger attorneys of Vermillion county, for he has 
done his best and has succeeded in the face of obstacles that would have dis- 
couraged many another. He is a fine example of the successful, energetic, 
self-made man, and, judging b)- his past accomplishments, the future holds 
much of good and promise for him. 

Mr. Lyday was born in Clinton, Indiana, November 14, 1889, the scion 
of excellent pioneer ancestors, and the son of Daniel \\'., Sr., and Charity 
(Carroll) Lyday, both natives of Vermillion county, this state. Both the 
Lydays and the Carrolls were early settlers in this locality and each were 
prominent and highly respected. The paternal grandfather, Benjamin F. 
Lyday, came from Pennsylvania to Vermillion county among the first settlers. 

The parents of the subject grew up in this locality, received their educa- 
tions in the local schools and were married here, continuing to spend the rest 
of their lives here, he dying in 1905, at the age of fifty-six years, the widow 
surviving five years, passing away in 19 10 at the age of sixty -one years. 
They became the parents of thirteen children, nine of whom arc living at this 
writing, namely : Otis B., of Indianapolis ; Benjamin F. lives in southern 
Illinois ; Robert D., of Clinton, Indiana ; Daniel W., Jr., has remained in his 
nati\c state: (ieorge W. still resides in Clinton; Louis M.. of Vigo county; 
Orpha, who married Thomas Kelshinicr. of (linton; Kay C. is in the Cnited 
States army: and Mark W'.. of this rexiew . 

Mark W. Lyda\- grew to manhood in iiis native community and he re- 
ceived a good common school education there. l>eing graduated from the 
Clinton high school, after which he entered the Indiinia I'ni versify Law 
School, later studying at the Cincinnati Law School, making an excellent 
record in each. He defrayed his expenses at school liy working in the mines 
during the vacation periods. He made his expenses while attending the com- 
mon and high schools with a shine box and hy selling newspapers. He is 
deserving of a great deal of credit for the fortitude, grit :md ambition he 
dis])laved. Such a character always rises above environment, no matter how 
discouraging. It is from such a source that most of our worthy and useful 
citizens ha\e sprung. He has been very successful as an attorney since estab- 
lishing himself for the practice of his profession in his home town, and on 
Tune 9. 191 1, he was ajipointed deputy prosecuting attorney of \'^ermiIlion 
countv, under Willis A. Satterlee. and is serving in that capacity in an able 



580 PARKE .\ND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and most satisfactory manner, liis term of office expiring on December 31, 
1912. 

Mr. Lyday lias long taken an abiding interest in public affairs and in the 
election of 191 2 he was the Democratic nominee for joint-representative from 
Vigo and Vermillion counties to the state Legislature. From the first his 
nomination was regarded as a most fortunate one, meeting the approval of all 
concerned, regardless of party ties and he was elected at the No\ember elec- 
tion, 1 91 2. ^Ir. Lyday has remained unmarried. 



JASPER i\. FRIST. 



It is with a degree of satisfaction to the biographer when he adverts to 
the life of one who has made a success in any vocation requiring detiniteness 
of purpose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of prosaic 
endeavor or radical accomplishment, abounds in valuable lesson and incentive 
to those w ho have become discouraged in the fight for recognition or to the 
youth whose future is undetermined. For a period of a quarter of a century 
Jasper N. F"nst, well known undertaker of Clinton, Vermillion county, has 
dii-ected his efforts toward the goal of success, and by patient continuance 
has won, being one of that city's worthy native sons, one who has been content 
to spend his life in his native community. 

Mr. Frist was born in Clinton township, Indiana, in 1863, and is a son 
of J. R. and Alary J. (Pierce) Frist. The father came to X'ermillion county 
from Delaware in an early day and here became well established through his 
industry as a farmer and auctioneer. 

Jasper N. Frist grew to manhood in his native community and recei\ed 
his early education in the common schools. Upon reaching manhood he was 
united in marriage with Etta L. Lambert, daughter of George AL and Melissa 
(Shapard) Lambert, a well known pioneer family of \'ermillion county. 

Mr. Frist began life for himself by engaging in farm work and school 
teaching, giving eminent satisfaction. He worked for X. C. Anderson in 
the grocery business. He then em.barked in the furniture and undertaking 
business, and this line of endea\-or he has continued for tb.e past twenty-five 
years, with ever-increasing success, cnjo\'ing a large trade \Nith the surnnind- 
ing country, always carrying a large stock of up-to-date furniture and as an 
undertaker he has always aimed nt prompt and high grade service. For a 



PARKE A.VD VERMILLION' COUNTIES, INDIANA. 581 

short time he attcndeil an enil)ahiiin£; school under Chirkc in Inihana'polis, 
and lie has been a close student at home of all that pertains to his line of en- 
deavor. He is a member of the state board of embalmers, and is regarded 
as one of the best in his chosen calling in western Indiana. He has taken a 
great interest in the above named board and has filled all the ofifices in the 
same up to and including that of president. 

Mr. Frist has always taken an abiding interest in public affairs and for 
a period of nine years he served the city of Clinton as postmaster in a manner 
that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of the 
people and the de]iartiiient. He has also been a \alueil meml)er of the city 
council and the ad\isory board. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Frist have been born two children. Enid and Don. 
both at home. 



T.\MES P.MXE. 



One of the best know n business men and worthy native sons of the city 
of Clinton, \'ermillion count}', is James Paine, who has for a long lapse of 
years managed successfully a grocery store here and carried on other lines 
of business in a manner that shows him to be a man of unusual industrial 
ability. But having the sterling pioneer ancestry liehind him of which he can 
boast, we do not wonder that he is a man who does things and w ho bears an 
unblemished reputation of lare force of character, for in the genealogical 
history of both the paternal and maternal lines there is much data signally 
germane to a compilalicm of this kind, lie has li\ed to see and take a lead- 
ing part in the wonderful growth of Clinton county and vicinity, and he is in 
every wav deser\-ing of the high esteem in w hich he is held by all. 

Mr. Paine was born on January 22, 1843, at I'.lackman and Second streets, 
Clinton, Indiana, and here he lived till he was nine years old. then removed 
to a farm a few miles from Clinton where he lived till he was twenty-three. 
He was educated in the common schools, his first teacher being .\nna Hatha- 
wa\-. who taught in old Temperance hall. He is a son of John and Charlotte 
(Brite) Paine. The Brite family came here from \'irginia in 1832. they 
and the Harrison family making the long overland trip, and they settled on 
Brulett's creek, about five miles west of Clinton. The father of the subject 
came in 1820 from the state of New York, locating in Clinton when it was 
a small frontier village in the midst of practically a wilderness, and here 



582 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

entered the mercantile business, later operating a hotel, which he continued 
until his death in 1S52. He was a prominent man here in the early days of 
the town's development, and he held the office of justice of the peace for a 
number of years, being incumbent of the same at the time of his death. 
During the thirty-two years of his residence here he became one of the most 
influential and best known men in this section of the state. His familv con- 
sisted of seven children, only one of whom, James, of this review, is now- 
living. 

James Paine was married in 1866 to Narcissus Wright, daughter of 

John and ' (Nichol) Wright. Mr. \\'"right came from Ca}uga county. 

New York, and settled near the Bunsen mine, in an earlv dav. 

James Paine began life for himself as a farmer, following that line of 
endeavor in his native county until 1870, when he removed to Kansas, where 
he continued general farming for a period of fourteen \ears, meeting with 
desirable success as he had previously done. He again went to Kansas in 
1898, spending eight years, and then, returning to Indiana, he turned his 
■ attention to the grocery business in Clinton and this he has continued to the 
present time with ever-growing success, having long enjoyed a large trade 
with the town and surrounding country, always carrying a large and care- 
fully bought stock of staple and fancy groceries at all seasons. 

To James Paine and wife were born five children, named as follows: 
Heniy. John R. and Frank all live in Clinton : Fred, w ho died when fourteen 
vears old : Grace and Howard are at home. 



THOMAS L. McDonald. 

A list of Vermillion count\'s energetic and progressive young men of 
affairs would be incomplete were there failure to make mention of Thomas 
L. McDonald, successful and well known insurance man of Clinton. He has 
e\-er maintained a high standard of ethics in his relations with his fellow men, 
whether business or social, and since coming to this locality he has won and 
retained without effort a host of staunch friends. 

Mr. McDonald was born at Coalfield. ]\Ionroe count}', Towa. January 
26, .1880, and is a son of James and Catherine fMaloney) McDonald, the 
father a native of Ireland. The latter was reared and married in England. 
in the county of Durham, and in early life emigrated to New York City, 
but soon afterwards came on west to Youngstown, Ohio, where he built a 



PARKE AND \KRMII.r.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 583 

house, which at that time was two miles out of town, but the same building 
is now well down town, there being modern improvements all around it. 
The elder AIcDonald was a miner, i-'rom Youngstown he removed tu the state 
of Iowa, locating in Aiahaska county, where he remained for a period of 
twenty-five years, then moved to DesMoines, where he still resides, -now living 
retired. He was formerly in business at Pekay, Iowa, for a period of ten 
or t\\ eh e jears. His family consisted of twelve children, namely : John 
lives in the state of Washington; Cacelia is deceased; Margaret lives in Des- 
Moines; William, Patrick and Dermott are all deceased; James, who lives 
at Hiteman, Iowa; Joseph li\es in Clinton, Indiana; Thomas L., subject 
of this sketch; Edward was next in order; Anthony is deceased; and Anthony 
(the second), named after his deceased brother, is li\ing at West Terre 
Haute, Indiana. The father of the aljove named children is a Democrat. 
The mother was called to her eternal rest on October j6, 1903, at the age 
of sixty-five years. 

Thomas L. McDonald grew to manhood in Iowa and recei\ed his eiluca- 
tion in the common schools there, but at the age of thirteen years he quit 
school to work in the mines, which line of endeavor he followed for a period 
of nine years, then took up the insurance business, which he has followed to 
the present time and in which he has been very successful, and is doing an 
extensive business in \'ermillion and adjoining counties. 

Mr. McDonald was married on October 3, T()ir. to Claire A. Didier, 
daughter of Claude and Eugina (Goffiney) Didier. The Coftineys are of 
French descent and came to this country from Belgium. .Mr. Cotfiney was a 
native of France and there be spent most of his life, dying in i'aris at the 
age of twenty-three years, in 1873. He was a soldier in the French army 
and fought in the Franco-Prussian war in 1871. Mr. Didier left his native 
land and emigrated to Nova Scotia, where he remained a short time, then 
came west in Canada and later to Pennsylvania and from there tti \'ennilliiin 
county. Indiana, locating later at Coal Creek, Fountain county. Then he 
went to Kentuckv, where he married, after which he returned to Fountain 
county where he remained until three or four years ago, when he moved to 
Clinton to live retired. He was a mason in France, but followed mining in 
America. Eight children were born to Claude Didier and wife, namely: 
Marv lives in Clinton, as do all the rest of the children: Matilda and Louis 
were twins: Claire A., wife of Mr. McDonald; Amy. James and Josephine. 
The death of the father of the above named children occurred on March .21, 
1910. at the age of sixty years. The mother also died in tqio. passing 



584 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

away on June 20th, at the age of fift}-four years. One child has been born 
to ^Ir. and Mrs. ]\IcDonald. Mary Louise. 

Mr. McDonald has taken a deep interest in the affairs of his county 
since locating in Clinton, and he was elected city clerk and took office on 
January i. 1910. his term holding until 1914. He is discharging the duties 
of this position in a manner that is meeting the hearty approval of all con- 
cerned. He is a member of tlie Local Lodge Xo. 887. Fraternal Order of 
Eagles, and is secretary of this lodge, and he is outside guard of the state 
lodge. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. Lodge No. 541. 
at Terre Haute, Indiana. He is a sociable, friendly and obliging young man 
who is popular with the people wherever he is known. 



JOHN R. PALXE. 

By a life of persistent and well applied industry, led along the most 
honorable lines, the gentleman whose name appears alx)ve has justly earned 
the right to be represented in a work of the character of the one at hand, 
along with the other men of Vermillion and Parke counties who have made 
their influence felt in their respective communities and have achieved success 
in their chosen fields of endeavor. 

John R. Paine, well known hardware merchant at Clinton, Indiana, 
was born in the city in which he still resides on October 15, 1869, and here 
he has been contented to spend his life. He is a son of James and Narcissus 
(Wright j Paine, the father also born in Clinton, this county, his l)irth hav- 
ing occurred in 1845. he being the son of John and Charlotte ( Brite) Paine. 
The Brite familv came here from \'irginia in 1832. The father of the sub- 
ject came from the state of New York in an early day and went into the 
hotel business in Clinton, and there spent the rest of his life, being well known 
here in pioneer times, having settled here as early as 1820. He was prominent 
in public affairs and was justice of the peace for many years. Of his family 
of seven children. James, father of the subject of this sketch, is the only one 
living. James Paine devoted his life to farming and in 1870 went to Kansas 
and there remained some time, then returned to Indiana, entering the grocery 
business in Clinton, in which he is still active. His family consists of five 
children, namely: Henry. John R.. Fred. Frank, Grace and Howard, all 
living but Fred. 



PARKE AXD VEKMILI.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 385 

John R. Paine grew to manhood in CHnton and received a good common 
school education. Upon reaching manhood he married Ella Scott, daughter 
of Washington and Anne E. (Bright; Scott, the father a native of Washing- 
ton county, Indiana, where his father was an early settler. The union of the 
subject and wife has been without issue. 

Mr. Paine has been engaged in the hardware business in Clinton for 
some time and he has built up a large patronage with the town and surround- . 
ing country, always carrying a large and up-to-date stock of general hard- 
ware and farming implements. 

Fraternally, he belongs to the Free and Accepted ^Masons and the Knights 
of Pythias, both at Clinton. He was elected a member of the city council 
in 1909, his term expiring in 1913. In this position he is doing much for the 
permanent good of the city. 



JAMES P. TUTWILER. 

Possessing many of the traits that are t_\pical of the people of the (Jld 
Dominion, it is no wonder that James P. Tutwiler. one of the best known 
merchants of Clinton, Vermillion county, has won a host of friends since 
taking up his residence here, for he has shown himself to be a man of indus- 
try, excellent public spirit, of lofty ideals and unswerxing honesty and 
gallantrv and he is thereftire eligible from every viewpoint to be mentioned 
in a volume of this nature along with other leading citizens of this section 
of the great Hoosier commonwealth. 

.Mr. Tutwiler was born in Rockingham counlx. X'irginia. July (). 1848. 
and is a son of Eeonard and Delila ( Royer ) 'I'ulw iler. botli natives of \'ir- 
ginia. in which state they grew to maturity, were educated and. married 
and there thev spent their entire lives engaged in farming, both being now 
deceased. Thev liecame the parents of ten children, named as follows : John 
P.. Richard A. and Julia are all deceased; Jacob is living: Addison. Samuel 
H. and Robert are all deceased ; Joseph L. lives in Illinois ; Delila is deceased : 
Tames P.. of this sketch, is the youngest of the family. 

lames P. Tutwiler grew to manhood in his native state and there re- 
ceived his educational training. He came to Indiana in 1874. locating at 
Libertyville, Vigo county, where he remained twenty years, during which 
time lie was engaged in the mercantile business and was also postmaster 



586 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

there. He enjoyed a large trade with the surrounding country and his long 
retention as postmaster is criterion of his eminent satisfaction as a public 
senant. In 1S95 he came to Clinton, Vermillion county, and at once entered 
mercantile pursuits, which he has continued with ever-growing success until 
the present time, building up a lucrative and most satisfactory business during 
the eighteen years since his advent here. He carries a large and carefully 
selected stock of goods at all seasons and his thousands of customers find 
his prices right and always kind and courteous treatment. 

Mr. Tutwiler was married on May 10, 1875, to Alice E. Higgans, 
daughter of William D. and Alartha F. (Rush) Higgans, both natives of 
Virginia, from which state they finally came to Ohio and established the 
future home of the family, and there Mr. Higgans died, after which event 
the mother of Mrs. Tutwiler came to Indiana and made her home With the 
subject until her death. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Higgans, 
namely: Amily Ann is deceased; Joseph F.. who lives in Columbus, Ohio; 
Mary E. is deceased; Alice E., wife of Mr. Tutwiler; Florence is deceased. 

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tutwiler, namely : Daisy 
Edna died when six months old ; Bertram Fenton, Daniel Burr and James 
Floyd are all deceased; Emery Clifton, who married Nellie \\'ebster; Theo 
Essa. w'ho married Chance Shorter. 

Mr. Tutwiler is a member of the city council of Clifton, having been 
elected in 1909. his term expiring in 1913. He is proving a very .capable 
defender of the city's rights in this capacity and is doing much for the per- 
manent good of the place. He attends the Christian cliurch at Clinton and 
is a liberal supporter of the same. 



WILLIAM PERRY SEYBOLD. 

One of the prosperous farmers of Parke county, Adams township, 
Indiana, is William Perry Seybold, who was born and raised in that part 
of the country and has all of its interests near at heart. When a man has 
lived liis life in a beautiful farming district, and gi\Tn of bis energ}- and 
attention to make the land more productive, every inch of the soil becomes 
dear to him and, though he may not realize it, it is so much a part of him 
and has such a hold on him that it is doubtful if he w'ould be happy else- 
where. Mr. Sevbold's interests are so closelv identified with those of his 



TAKKE A.\D \'KkMir,LION COLXTIES, IMJIANA. 58/ 

community that the history of his county would be itKinuplete witlidut some- 
thing of his Hfe. 

W'ilham Perr)- Seybold was born in Adams township. I'arke county, 
Indiana, September 22, 1869. His father was Samuel Seyliuld, a native 
of Indiana and also a farmer in I'arke counly. His mother was Amanda 
Overpeck. who also was born and raised in this state. They had three 
children: Minerva married Charles Brubeck; George is dead, and William 
Perry is in Parke counly. William Seybold was educated in the common 
schools in Parke county, and worked on the farm during his \acations. He 
learned a great deal about farming, and as soon as he finished school he took 
up farming on his own account, in Adams township. 

On October 30, 1895, Air. Seybold married Mary lieard, the daughter 
of John and Myra Beard. They were early settlers in this county, coming 
to Indiana when it was only sparsely settled, and facing the dangers of an 
unknown and undeveloped land. They came here from X'irginia. and their 
names are prominent among those who did much to build up that part of the 
state. W^illiam and Mary Seybold have one child, John Max. who is at home. 
They have been very successful on their farm, and own some of the most 
highly culti\'ated acres in Parke county. Air. Seybold is one of the most 
prominent citizens in his communit\' and has always taken an active interest 
in all public afifairs. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, at Rockville, Indiana, and of the encampment. Mr. Seybold is 
a Democrat bv political conviction. He and his faiuily are members of the 
Baptist church, and are prominent in the social life, as well as the \arious 
other interests of their community. 



MONROE G. HOSFORD. 

A member of that sterling type of pioneer citizens which has furnished 
the bone and sinew of the country and added to the stability of our govern- 
ment and its institutions is Monroe G. Hosford. well known mill and elevator 
man of Cayuga and one of Vermillion county's most representative native 
sons. Like his father before him. he is a man of many sterling characteristics 
of head and heart and among his contemporaries it would be hard to find a 
record as replete with toilsome duty faithfully and uncomplainingly performed 
in all the walks of life, while his career in the humble sphere of private citizen- 



588 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

ship has been such as to recommend him to the favorable consideration of the 
people of his locality. 

Mr. Hosford was born at the town of Eugene, \'ernnllion county, Indiana, 
]'"el:)ruar\' 4, 1845. ^^ '^ a son of Philo and Evaline (Wigley) Hosford, 
the father a native of Ontario county, New York, from which state he came 
with his parents to Vermillion county, Indiana, in 1832. Ambrose Hosford, 
the first of the family, came from New England, locating at Lawrenceburg. 
He de\oted his life to farming. His family consisted of four children, 
namelx' : Philo and Alilo, twins; Pamelia and Leman. Ambrose Hosford 
died at Lawrenceburg, and the grandmother of the subject brought the 
family to Eugene. Philo Hosford, father of the subject of this sketch, was 
reared and educated in the East, and after coming to Eugene, Indiana, he 
followed the carpenter's trade. His family consisted of the following chil- 
dren: Charles Monroe (our subject). Naomi. Eliza, Pamelia, Samuel and 
Richard. 

Philo Hosford was born in 181 1, and died at Eugene, Indiana, in 1895. 
Politically, he was a Republican. His wife was born in 1816, and her death 
occurred in 1883. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. 

Monroe Hosford grew to manhood at Eugene and there received his 
education in the cnmmon schools. From 1863 to 1876 lie was clerk in Gron- 
dyke's store, giving most satisfactory ser\ice and learning in the meantime 
the ins and outs of the mercantile business, and after he left Mr. Grondyke"s 
employ he engaged in general merchandising for himself in his native town. 
He next engaged in the milling business and was burned out in 1883. The 
following year he liuilt the mill at the \illage of Cax'uga. this county, and has 
since followed milling here with uninterrupted success, enjoving a large and 
ever-growing business with the surrounding country, the products of his 
mill finding very ready market owing to their superior quality. He has a 
large grain elevator in connection with his mill and he de\-otes all his atten- 
tion to these enterprises. 

Mr. Hosford was married on October J3, 1873, ^'^ Sarah C. Simpson, 
and to them three children have been born : Charles, a sketch of whom 
appears elsewhere in this work; Daisy, and Eenore, who married Herbert S. 
Johnston, of the Cayuga Milling Comjiany. 

Politically, Mr. Hosford is a Republican and in 1880 he was elected 
trustee of Eugene township and served two years. In 1898 he was elected 
treasurer of Vermillion county, which position he held until 1903, serving two 
terms with much credit and satisfaction to all concerned. Fraternally, he 
belongs to the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen of America. 



I'ARKI-: WD VKUMIIJ.IOX COUNTIES, IXDIAXA. 389 

L. B. HUiMPHRlES. 

To his own efforts is the success of L. B. Humphries, well known and 
highly respected citizen of Rockville, Parke county, attributable, he being 
a fine example of the successful self-made man of today, having started out 
upon his business career practically without capital or aid from any one, 
but, being ambitious and industrious, he forged ahead and has become one 
of the substantial men of affairs in the locality of which this volume treats. 
Besides having accumulated a competency in the pump and wind-mill business, 
which he followed for a score of years, he is the owner of a good farm near 
Rockville. This, too, is the \isil:)le evidence of his prosperity and industry, for 
w hen it came into his possession it was only partly improved and not nearly 
so productive as it is at this writing. Such a man deserves the high regard 
in which he is held by his neighbors. 

Mr. Humphries was born in the Shenandoah \alley, Rockbridge county, 
Virginia, October 6, 1853, ''"^ '^*^ 'S the son of Washington and Dicie 
( Wright) Humphries. The father also was a native of Virginia, where he 
grew up, was educated and married and there spent his life, dying when the 
sul)ject was five vears uld. I'^ixe vears later, when tlie son was ten years of 
age, the mother also passed away. 

L. B. Humphries remained in Virginia until he was eighteen years old. 
being reared partly by his uncle and partly l)y his brothers. He received a 
good common school education in his native state, and before leaving there 
he worked ^t the molder's trade in a foundry. Coming west, he located in 
Illinois, remaining there until 1870, when he came to Rockville, Indiana, 
where he has since resided. His first two years here were spent as a farm 
laborer and after that he engaged in the puni]) and windmill business for a 
period of twenty years and in which he was very successful, his operations 
covering a large territor}-. He then worked for .some time at coal ])rospecting 
with more less gratifying results. 

IIa\-iiig long manifested an abiding interest in ])ublic affairs, Mr. Ilum- 
phries was elected trustee of .Vdams township. Parke county, in the fall 
of icx>8 for a period of four years, and the Legislature extended the time 
two years. He discharged the duties of this office in a highly acceptable 
manner, enjoying the confidence and good will of all concerned. 

Mr. Humphries was married in 1872 to Rachael Lambert, who was 
born and reared in Parke cotmtv. Indiana, and is the daughter of Tames and 



590 PARKE AND \rERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Sarah (Leonard) Lambert, a highly respected old family of this county. 
To the subject and wife one child has been born, who died in infancy. 

Politically ^Ir. Humphries is a loyal Democrat and takes an active part 
in political work, now serving his third term as chairman of the Parke county 
central committee. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. 
He still does some work in the well business, and he looks after his farm of 
eighty-three acres, which lies three miles from Rockville. He is a quiet, 
honest, unassuming gentleman who has won a host of friends since casting 
his lot with the people of Parke county. 



CLARENCE STONE. 



The office of biograph}- is not to gi\e \-oice to a man's modest estimate 
of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to lea\e upon the record the 
verdict establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part 
of his neighbors and fellow citizens. The life of Clarence Stone, an energetic 
young farmer of Parke county, has been such as to elicit just praise from those 
who know him best, owing to the fact he lias always been loyal to the trusts 
reposed. u])on him and has been upright in his dealings with his fellow-men. 
at the same time lending his support to the advancement of any cause looking 
to the welfare of the community at large. 

Mr. Stone was born on January 17. 1875, o" ^'^^ Fred Griffin farm in 
Parke county, Indiana, and is the son of Caius M. and Letia ( Ciott) Stone. 
The father was born in Kentucky, near the city of Louisville, and there he 
was reared and educated. W'hen about twenty-one years old he came to 
Montgomery county, Indiana, later removing" to Parke county, where he 
took up land from the government and here began life in pioneer style, and, 
working hard, developed a good farm and home from the wilderness. He 
started in life by working out by the week, in that way saving enough to 
buy land, to which he later added until he had a large farm, one of the choicest, 
in fact, in his section of Parke county. His family consisted of seven chil- 
dren, namely : Julia. Jennie, William, Irvin, Cora, Minnie and Clarence, 
the subject, who is the youngest child. 

Clarence Stone grew to manhood in his home community, and when a 
boy assisted his father with the work on the home place, and he received 
his education in the common schools. He has remained on the home place, 
his father dying in August, 1906, and he manages the farm for his mother. 



PAKKK AM) VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 59I 

The place consists of one Inindred and sixty-five acres of well improved and 
productive land, on the Lafayette road ahont two miles from Clinton. 

Mr. Stone was married on September ii. i8()4. to Charlotte Ballew, 
the daughter of Charles and .'Xbnilda (Fenton) Ballew. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Stone five children were born, namely : Charles. Evelyn, Grace. Henry and 
Charlotte. The wife and mother was called to her eternal rest on .\ugust 
9, 1 91 2. She belonged to the Methodist church. Henry Clarence Stone 
died January 2, 1913. 

^^''illiam Stone, brother of the subject, married l-'Ua Holman. and they 
became the parents of three children, namelv : ( Jtha, lilanche ancl Robert. 
William Stone is now deceased. 

Clarence Stone is a member of the Knights of T^'thias. He is a Democrat 
in politics, but has been no aspirant for public honors. 



THOMAS H. NELSON. 

That the career of such a man as Thomas H. Nelson, a native son of 
Parke count}- and for many years a well know n citizen here, now a prominent 
lumberman of Indianapolis, besides being treasured in the hearts of relatives 
and friends, should have its public record also, is peculiarly proper because 
a knowledge of men whose substantial reputation rests upon their attainments 
and character must e.xert a wholesome influence upon the rising generation. 
While presenting to future generations the chronicle of such a life, it is with 
a hope of instilling into the minds of those who come after the important 
lesson that honor and station are pure rewards of honorable and persistent 
individual exertion. 

Mr. Nelson was born one mile west of Bloomingdale. I'arke county, 
Indiana, May 5, 1868, and is a son of Thomas and Elizal)eth t Chapman) 
Nelson. The father was born on September 18. 1827. and his death occurred 
on October 17, 1894. The mother was born March 29, 1829, and is still 
living, making her home at Bloomingdale, being now advanced in years. 
The father of the subject was a native of Yorkshire, England, and there 
spent his earlier years, coming to the United States in 1 841 on a small sailing 
vessel, which landed in New York City. From there he came by water to 
Cincinnati, Ohio. Coming overland to i'arke county', Indiana, he located 
on a farm near Bloomingdale. The country round alx)ut was wild, for the 
most part, and he cleared his land himself, beginning life here in typical 



592 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

pioneer fashion, and b} hard work and close apphcation he de\ eloped a good 
farm and established a comfortable home. He devoted his life successfully 
to general farming and stock raising. He was one of the first men in Indiana 
to raise the short horn cattle. He was well educated, as was also his wife, 
who was a native of Parke county and whom he met and married here. He 
was quite a politician, an ardent Republican, and was commissioner of Parke 
county for nine successive years, and also served some time on the Indiana 
state board of agriculture. He never missed a state fair from the time the 
first one was held until his death. He was a man whose opinions were sought 
by his neighbors on many things, and his advice was always followed with 
gratifying results. He was a well read man, who kept abreast of the time, not 
only in county and state affairs, but also nationally. He was for many years 
one of the best known and most influential men in Parke county. His family 
consisted of eight children, all sons, namely : George is deceased ; Henry, who 
married Jennie Winston; William, who married Cora Kirkpatrick; Charles 
J., who married Elma Morrison: Horace, who first married Anna Meldrum, 
now deceased, Init since he has married again to Bula Clark ; Edward, who 
was not married, died in August, 1884; James, who married ]\Iaude Mus- 
grave, became city engineer of Indianapolis, and before that was county sur- 
veyor of Marion county, died in the capita! city in 1908: Thomas H., of this 
rcA iew. was the youngest in order of birth. 

Thomas H. Nelson grew to manhood on the home farm and there he 
assisted with the general work about the place during the crop seasons when 
he became of proper age. He received his primary education in the common 
schools and the high school, then entered a business college at Poughkeepsie. 
New York, in 1891, from w'hich he received the Master of Arts degree. When 
twenty-one years of age he came to Indianapolis and secured employment 
w itli the Citizens Gas Company, with which he remained, giving the utmost 
satisfaction, until the panic of 1893. In that year he went to Mt. Olive, 
Mississippi, and took a position w'ith the ]Mt. Olive Lumber Company, and 
while there gained a comprehensive knowledge of the lumber and timber 
business. He remained in this field of endeavor until about thirteen years 
ago, when he returned to Parke county and took a position as deputy county 
auditor under Stephen Pike: and after leaving him he came back to Indian- 
apolis and took a position with the (^reer-Wilkinson Lumber Company as 
traveling auditor, the duties of which responsible post he filled with his usual 
satisfaction. Some time ago he entered the wholesale lumber business which 
has been operated under the subject's name and which has been very successful 



I'ARKE AND VKRMll.LION COLNTIES. INDIANA. 593 

iind is rapidly growing. Mr. Nelson has mastered ever_v phase of the Inniher 
bnsiness and has kept well abreast of the times in this field of endea\or. 

On Xovember 30, k^io. .Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to M\rtle 
Mason, a lady of many estimable attributes, who was born on July 8, 1887, 
in (iibson county, Indiana, where she grew to womanhood and rcceivetl a 
good common and iiig-h school education, later entering Western College, ( )x- 
ford. Ohio, from which she graduated. She is a daughter of Thomas J. 
Mason, who was for eight years clerk of Gibson county and an influential 
citizen there. 

Mr. Nelson is secretary-treasurer of the National Association Lumber. 
Sash and Door Salesmen, as well as secretary-treasurer of the Central Asso- 
ciation Lumber. Sash and Door Salesmen. 

Fraternally, Mr. Nelson belongs to the ^Lasonic order, lndiana])olis 
Lodge No. 6, Royal Arch Masons. He is a Republican, and is a member of 
the Marion Club, of Indianapolis, which is one of the largest Republican 
clubs in the Middle West. He is also a memlier of the Commercial Club, of 
Indianapolis, and stands high in both. 



CLIARLES D. RENICK. 

The biographies of successful men are instructive as guides antl incen- 
tives to those whose careers are yet to be achieved. The e.Kam])les lliey lur- 
nish of patient purpose and consecutive endeavor strongly illustrate' what is 
in the power of each to accomplish, if he is willing to press forward in the 
face of all opposition, refusing to be downed by untoward circumstances, 
thus making stepping-stones of what some would find to be insurmountable 
stumbling blocks. The gentleman whose life history herewith is, we hope, 
accurately and succinctly set forth, is a conspicuous example of one who has 
lived to good purpose and achieved a definite degree of success in the special 
sphere to which his talents and energies have been devoted. Mr. Renick 
deserves to rank as one of the worthiest native sons of Parke county, Indiana, 
where he continued to reside for many years, becoming well known as a 
teacher in the local schools and as clerk of the circuit court at a later date. 
Seeking a broader field for the exercise of his talents, he took up his resi- 
dence in Indianapolis a number of years ago where his rise in busmess circles 
was rapid, and he is now the able and popular president of the Indiana Na- 
(38) 



594 PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

tiiinal Life Insurance Conipan_\ , and ranks among tlie influential men of af- 
fairs of the Hoosier capital. 

Charles 1). Renick was born on October 28. 1871, near Lodi. Parke 
county, Indiana. He is a son of James P. and Margaret (Dow) Renick, a 
prominent old pioneer famih-, whose influence in the early days was most 
potent in the progress of this locality in a general ^\a\'. The father was born 
on March j(>. 1835. the son of deorge Renick and wife: he devoted his life 
successfully to general agricultural pursuits, and as a Republican took an 
active interest in puljlic affairs. He spent his life in Parke county, where 
his parents settled in a verv early da\- and l)ecame well known among the 
pioneers. They established a good home in the wilderness through hard, 
persistent toil. The death of James P. Renick occurred on October 26. 1904. 
The mother of the subject was born in Ohio. November 3. 1839, and her 
death occurred on November 14, 1903. These parents, like the grandparents, 
were noted for their industry, honesty and hospitality. 

To James P. Renick and wife elex'cn children were Ijorn, se\en of whom 
are still li\ing, namelv : Ben. William, Charles D. (of this sketch), Luia, 
Ora, Arthur C. and Samuel C. 

Charles D. Renick grew to manhood on the home farm near the village 
of Lodi, and there he assisted with the general work about the place during 
crop seasons w hen he liecanie of i)roper age. and in the winter time he attended 
the neighboring schools, later the high school, then spent three years in the 
Lidiana State Normal School at Terre Haute. .Vfter he became twenty-one 
years of age he began teaching in Parke county and followed this for a period 
of seven \ears with much success, his services being in great demand. He 
took an interest in ])ublic affairs and was elected clerk of the circuit court in 
1900, and he served four years in that ca])acity in a manner that reflects 
much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. 

After his term of office had expired. Mr. Renick came to Indianapolis 
and entered a business career, securing a ])osition w itli the Indiana National 
Life Insurance Company, witli which he has continued to the jjresent time. 
For a number of years he was secretary, and some time ago was electetl 
president, the important duties of which responsible post he is discharging 
with a fidelity and discernment that stamjis him as fully abreast of the times 
in this great held of endeavor and to the eminent satisfaction of the stock- 
holders, patrons and all concerned, holding a jiosition in the front rank in 
the insurance world. 

Fraternally, Mr. Renick has attained the thirty-second degree in Mason- 
ry, belonging to the Scottish Rite, and the .\ncient Arabic Order of Nobles 



PAUKI-; AND NKR.MII r.lON COL'NTI KS, I.XDIANA. 59:^ 

of the Mystic Shrine, lie also belongs to the Knights of I'vthias and the 
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically, he is a Republican 
and is a member (if the Marion flub, one of the largest and most intlucntial 
Republican clubs in the Middle West. He is also a member of the Highland 
(iolf Club. Personal!}-, he is a genteel gentleman upon all occasions, genial, 
obliging and a pleasant man to nxeet, being, withal, plain and unassuming. 



CHARLES F. BALL. 



Another of the enterpi'ising antl successful native sons of I'arke county 
is Charles F. Ball, who is engaged in merchandising in Union township. 
He h;is always been known as a man of energy and good habits and interested 
in the welfare of bis nati\-e county, in which the Halls ha\e been well known 
since the early days and their united labors have counted tor much in the 
general upbuilding of the county. 

Mr. Ball was born on September 26, 1863. in Parke count}', Indiana. 
He is a son of Abel and Lyda (BuUington) Ball, both also natives of I'arke 
county, where tlic\ grew to maturity, were educated in the earl\- schools of 
their respecti\e comnumities and here were married, and here thev continued 
to make their home, becoming successful farmers. The paternal grandfather 
of the subject was James Rail, who came from I'ennsylvania to Parke count}- 
and entered land from the government, beginning life as a typical pioneer, 
and here established the permanent home of the faniil}-. The father of the 
.subject was an extensi\-e stock raiser, handling short horn cattle, de.-iling 
extensi\-elv in li\-e stock, growing large numbers on his farm and shipping 
them to market, lie is now deceased, having jjassed away on .\pril K), 1S87. 
at the age of tift}--ft)ur }-ears eight n-ionths thirteen days. The mother of 
the subject is still living, making her home near her son, Charles I-"., of this 
sketch, on the old homestead. To these ])arents eight children were l)orn. 
h\-e of whom are still living. 

Charles 1-'. li;dl grew to manhood on the home farm and there worked 
when a bo\-, recei\ing his education in the common schools. CJn March i_^, 
1890, he married Clara Stout, who was born in 1870 in L'nion township, 
Parke county, the daughter of J. (). and Sarah t Wright ) Stout. To the sub- 
ject and wife one child has been born, Grace, who married John 11. Rein, a 
farmer, who lives just north of the subject. 

Charles F. Ball began life as a farmer, spending iweKe or fifteen \ears 



596 PARKE AND VERMIU.IOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

in that line of endeaxor with \cry satisfactor\- resnlts. Pie then associated 
himself with his father-in-law in the general merchandising business in the 
\-illage of Hollandsburg. Union tow nship, this county, and they are still suc- 
cessfully engaged in that line of work, enjoying a large trade w^ith the sur- 
rounding countr\-. Mv. Ball owns a comfortable home, an interest in the 
store and a good farm of forty-two acres, all tillable and well tiled, Mr. Ball 
having made many modern improvements thereon himself. 

Fraternally, Air. Ball is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Bellmore. 
He is a Republican and he was elected township trustee in 1904 of Union 
townshi]), and he discharged his duties in this connection in a highly accepta- 
ble manner until 1908 when his term expired. 



JOHN NELSON SEYBOLD. 

The respect that should always be accorded the brave sons of both the 
North and the South who left their homes and the peaceful pursuits of civil 
life to give their service, and their lives, if need be, to preserve the integrity 
of the Union, is certainly due John Nelson Se}bold, farmer of. Raccoon 
townshi]), and a descendant of one of Parke count)"s worthy pioneer 
families. P^or he proved his love and loyalty to the government on the long 
and tiresome marches, in all kinds of situations, exposed to summer's w ither- 
ing heat and winter's freezing cold, on the lonely picket line a target for the 
missile of the unseen foe, on the tented field and amid the flame and smoke of 
battle, where the rattle of musketry, mingled with the terrible concussion of 
the bursting shell, and the deep diapason of the cannon's roar, made up the 
sublime, but awful, chorus of death. 

To the heroes of the "Grand Army" all honor is due : to them the country 
is under a debt of gratitude which it cannot pay; and in centuries yet to be. 
posterity will commemorate their chivalry in fitting eulogy and tell their 
knightlv deeds in story and song. To this rapidly vanishing host, passing 
into the phantom army of the silent land, belongs Air. Seybold, still left with 
us to thrill us with remembrances of those stirring times of the sixties. 

Mr. Seybold was born May 27, 1846, in Raccoon township, Parke county, 
Indiana, two miles from his present home. The ancestry of the subject 
can be traced back to his great-great-grandparents, who were Jasper and 
Rebecca Seybold, born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1730 and 173.2, respectivel}'. 

The great-grandfather. Jasper Seybold, Jr.. was born in (Germany, Decem- 



PARKE AND VKRMII.LION COUNTIES, INDIANA. ^gy 

ber 26, 1757, and eniiiirated to America and was mairiL-d to Xancv Carroll, 
of Carrolton. 

The grandparent was Dempsey Seybold, born April 26, i/Qi, and who 
married Elizabeth Kerr. January 22. 1814. She was born September 18, 

1793- 

Thomas Kerr Seybold. father of the subject, was born Jul\- 8, 1816, in 
]\Iason county, Kentucky, and came with his parents to Raccoon township, 
on the i8th day of November, 181 8, and was married February 4, 1836, 
to Mildred I]. Sea. To them were born nine children, nameb' : Samuel K., 
Dempsey Carroll, \\"illiam 11. H.. Mary E., Mahlon V.. America Indiana, 
John Nelson, Susan and James H., three of whom are still living, John N., 
subject of this sketch, Susan Se}bold Leslie, of Fredonia. Kansas, and 
James H., of North Terre 1 laute. 

The mother of the subject, Mildred H. Sea. daughter of William Sea. 
was bom February 14, 1814, in Rockbridge county. Virginia, and emigrated 
to Indiana in 1834: she died January 19. 1899. Thomas K. Seybold, the 
father, died May <). 1830, leaA'ing a large tamil\- of children for the mother 
to rear. 

John N. Seybold was sent to Hancock county. Illinois, in September, 
1852. living there until September. 186(3. when he returned to Indiana and 
worked on a farm. r.ecei\ing his education at district schools until July 20. 
1863. when he enlisted at Kosedale in this cnunt}' for six months" service in 
Company B. One Hundred and Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantrw under 
Capt. William D. Mull. He saw considerable hard serxice in <lefense of the 
Union, marching in all over four hundred miles, receiving alxjut one-third 
rations while on march and subsisting ten da\ s on two ears of corn a day. 
Fie was at the battle of Blue Springs and i)art of the siege of Knoxville. 
eastern Tennessee, in October and November. 1863: was taken sick at 
Cumberland Ca]>. \'irginia. with measles and sent home. He was mustered 
out on February 24. 1864. and on the same day enlisted in Battery H, First 
Indiana Heavy Artillery, and went south in March of that year to Fort 
Williams. Baton Rouge. Louisiana. He was moved from there to New 
Orleans and was later in battle at Mobile Bay and the siege at Fort Gaines 
and I'"ort Morgan, which lasted twenty-three days. He then returned to 
New Orleans, where he spent the winter of i8C)4 and 1865, then was re- 
turned to Mobile Bay. In February. 1865, was engaged in the siege of 
Spanish Fort, b'ort Huger and Fort Tracy; was then mo\ed to Fort Blakely. 
the last important battle of the war. The fort surrendered nn April 12. 
1865, a thousand men giving up their lives in this battle. The regiment 



598 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

was detailed to do garrison duty. Company H being sent to Fort Gaines, 
where Mr. Seybold was honorabl\- discharged, January 10, 1866, at Baton 
Rouge, Louisiana, when peace had spread her wings over the land, their 
ser\'ices l)eing no longer required, his service as a soldier ha\ing lieen most 
faithfully and gallantly performed. 

Mr. Sevbold was married January 30, 1868. to Hannah Mary Webster. 
To this union w ere born four children, namely : Ruth Isabel, born December 
14, 1868; James Thomas, born April 30, 1870: Beulia .\nne, born January 
7, 1873; Martha Ellen, born March 30, 1875, all of whom survive except 
James Thomas, who died January 13, 1871. 

The father of Mrs. Seybold, James Steward Webster, was born June 16. 
1 8 10, ill Fayette county, Ohio (whose grandfather was ^^'iltiam Web.ster. a 
soldier in the Revolution). He died September 10, 1882, in Raccoon town- 
ship, ha\ing emigrated to this state when a boy. Her mother was born in 
Brooks county, Virginia, on August 6, 1812. She died .\])ril 5, 1899. 

Mr. Seybold now resides on his farm at Salem. He was elected trustee 
in 1886 and served two years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church at Salem and a trustee of the same, a memlier of Steel Post No. 9, 
Grand Army of the Republic, and a member of Carlin Lodge No. 402, Free 
and Acce]jted Masons, having served as master seven terms. 

Mr. Seybold has a cane made by his great-great-grandfather, who li\ed 
in Germany. It is alx)ut one hundred and fifty )ears old. having been made 
in 1760. and it is highly priced as a family heirloom. 



ROY C. H.\RRISON. 

In an\' communit\'. one of the most elexating influences is music. Music 
lovers always hold a prominent place in the social life, and are often most 
prominent in the business life of the ordinary American town. "The Band" 
is the organization about which all flock, and whose influence creates harmony 
and unity. One of the leaders in this respect in Clintun. \'ermillion county, 
Indiana, is Roy C. Harrison, who has spent his life in that place and is a 
favorite in all the country around there. He is one of the most highly 
respected of the progressive young miners in that place. 

Mr. Harris:on was born in Clinton. Indiana, September 2^, 1881, and 
is the son of Clarence R, and Sopha (Weber) Harrison. Clarence R. Har- 
rison is the brother of E. R. Harrison, w'hose sketch mav be found in this 



TAkKi-: A,\n \'i:kmu.i.1()N colntiics. Indiana. 599 

book. l\c)\- C. Harrison spent his earl\- life as most of the other small hoys 
in Clinton, beinj; highly interested in the mines near there. He received a 
common school edncation, supijleniented by the regular hi.gh school course. 
Soon after hnishing school he started to work with the railroad companx'. 
in the jmsition of night agent at the depot at Clinton, Indiana. He was not 
satisfied with this work and he accepted the position of weigh boss at Buck- 
eye mine, which was then known as Oak Hill, and is now owned by the 
Deeriiiii Compan\-. .\fter a while he changed to the Klondyke mine, and was 
identified with that mine until the first of January, uju, when he started to 
work at the J. K. Deering Mine Xo. j. .Mr. Harrison has been very success- 
ful in his work at the mines, and has pro\ ed himself a very valua]>le man to 
the companies for whom he has worked. 

Mr. Harrison is a single man, and has thrown liimself \ery enthusiasti- 
call_\- into the work of the Musicians' Union, as well as other acti\ities in 
his home town, tie ])lays the melophone especially well and is a member 
of the }ilusicians' L'nion. Mr, llarris(jn also belongs to the band in Clinton. 
ha\ing been a member of this organization for about three years. He has 
also taken a leading jjart in the politics of Clinton, and is a Republican l)y 
conviction. .\s a native of that part of the country, and an energetic and 
able voung man. who has the interests of his home and neighlwrs close at 
heart. Mr. Harrison is one of the most reliable and prominent of the younger 
citizens of V'ernnllion countv. 



JOSEPH I.. hR.WTZ. 

When a county is rich in mines, as is X'ermillion county. Indiana, the\' 
furnish a center for all the life of the district, and the men who have charge 
of them are naturalh- the most inlluenlial men in the community, .\mong 
those who hold prominent places in the mines near Clinton. Indiana, is 
Jose])h I.. l<"rantz, who in the short time he has been in this state has pro\ed 
himself a valuable and reliable citizen and a husiness man of honesty and 
integrity. 

Joseph T.. Frantz was born in Champaign county, Ohio. August 2q. 
1880, and is the son of Sanniel D. and Martha ( Kent^ Frantz. His father 
was born September 12, 1834. in Ohio, and >till lixes there. His mother 
was born April 18, 1856, and died .\])ril iS, kjo^, I'n Ohio. They were 
prominent farmers in their home countv. where they were raised, from the 



600 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

days when they attended the coninion schools to the time when they reached 
maturity, and their son enjoyed the wholesome country life, though it was 
mixed with ilays of toil on the farm, and man}' hours were spent in the 
school, which was not made interesting by many facilities enjoyed by the 
present generation of children. 

At tile age of twenty-one years JNIr. Frantz left the old home and made 
his way to Indiana. He became a teamster in Crown Hill mine No. i, near 
Clinton. Indiana, and later was made a trimmer. A desire to see his home 
folks and work again in the soil took him back to Ohio soon, however, and he 
stayed there for four years, giving his entire attention to farming. In 1908 
Mr. Frantz came to Vermillion count}-. Indiana, again and went to Crown 
Hill mine No. 3, w here he worked for several years. 

On June 28, ic»ii, Mr. Frantz married Isora Kelly, who was born on 
June 30, 1887. She received a common school education. They have one 
child, Joseph Leonard. Mr. Frantz's work at Crown Mill mine No. 3 was 
that of flat trimmer. He became top boss at Crown Hill mine No. 4. Jime 
II, 1912, and still holds that position. 

Mr. Frantz has been \ery successful in his work in the mines as he 
knows how to handle the men and the work in the most productive wav. 
and he has made himself valuable to the company. Mr. Frantz is a Democrat, 
and is one of the leaders of his party because of his position of influence. 
It is to such men, young, energetic, keen, and of the highest business ability, 
to whom Clinton and \''ermillion counties, Indiana, look for their future 
prosperity. 



JAMES GREGORY. 

James Gregory is the son of Thomas Gregory, who has made his name 
famous in \'ermillion county through his wDrk in the mines of the Bunsen 
Company near Clinton and James Gregory is made of the same strong, 
l)ersistent, courageous fibre as his father. He is not popular in Vermillion 
county alone for what his father has done, but is a well known citizen and 
highly respected man for what he is himself. 

Mr. Gregory was born in Lancashire. England. July 24. 1882. and is 
the son of Thomas and Ellen Gregory, who were born in England in 1855 
and 1854 respectively. He was brought to this country by his parents at the 
age of two months, and lived with them in Vigo count}- until 1905. He 
received a common school education, and through observation and instruc- 



PARKE A.NI) VF.RMir.r^lOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 6oi 

tiun l)ecame well \erse<! in the work in the ir.ines which occupied the atten- 
tion of his father. On June 22, 1905, he married Nellie Butler, who was 
born near Clay City. Indiana, in 1885. She attended the common school 
there and later went to the normal school at Terre Haute, Indiana, after 
which she taught in the schools for a while Ix-fore she was married. Thev 
ha\e one child, Eleanor Betty Gregory. 

j\Ir. Gregory moved to \''ern-.illion county in Octciher, 191 1. and he has 
done a great deal of work in the Pumsen Cnmi)an\- mines since he has been 
here, as his father is now superintendent of the Universal Bunsen Coal Com- 
pany mines near Clinton. Indiana, .\lthough Mr. Gregory is not a native 
of this state, nor indeed i<\ this c<-)untr\ . he is as loyal a citizen and as keenlv 
interested in the affairs of his community, socially politically, and in a Inisi- 
ness way, as any ardent Hoosier. He is a Republican and a conscientious 
supporter of his partv in his county. As are the rest of his family, his father, 
mother, brother and sisters, Mr. Gregory is a memljer of the Episcopal church. 
He is an energetic, industrious young man, and. though he has onl\- li\cd in 
Clinton a short time, he has made his personality and Inisiness ability felt 
in the circles in which he has mo\ed. He is ambitious and w ill undoubtedh- 
prove to be one of the foremost citizens in his community. 



VRTHUR FERGUSON. 

Progress is the law of successful li\ing, and as men stay in line with this 
law, working faithfully and doing their part, their own endeavors and the 
insight they have gained into the conditicin^ of their work raise them to 
positions of trust and importance. Arthur kerguson is a striking exami)le 
of what a young man can do in the mining field in X^ermillion countv. 
Indiana. He started eight years ago in very humble work in the mines 
near Clinton, Indiana, and has gradually worked his way up until he is now 
superintendent of four of the mines, and is one of the most \aluable men 
in the employ of the company. Mr. Ferguson has also made his influence 
felt in his neighborhood, and is one of the most reliable .-uid highh res|K*cted 
citizens of Clinton, Vermillion county. Indiana. 

Mr. Ferguson is the son of C. J. and Mary (Thoni]ison) Ferguson. 
His father was born in Putnam county. Indiana, where he received an ordi- 
nary common school education, and farmed for many years. He now lives 
in Terre Haute. Indiana. His mother was also a native of Indiana, and 
died in March, 1907. C. J. and Mary Ferguson had three children, all of 



602 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

whom are now living. Arthur Ferguson was born October lo. 1881. in 
Bowhng Green, Clay county, Indiana. He received a common school educa- 
tion and later attended higii school at Terre Haute, Indiana. 

Mr. I'>rguson was married September 26. 1906, to Grace McClain, of 
Terre Haute. Indiana. She was born in that city March 16, 1880, and at- 
tended both the grade schools and the high school there. They have one 
child, Charles W. Ferguson, who was born September 26, 1908. 

Mr. .\rthur F'erguson began working in a grocery store in Clinton. 
Indiana, when he had finished school. Later he went to work for the rail- 
road company, but he only stayed with them for two months and then went 
to work in Terre Haute, Indiana. Eight \ears ago he went to Clinton, 
Indiana, and started to work at mine No. 2, known as Crown Hill, firing. 
He worked faithfully at this for six months, and at the end of that time he 
had made such a good impression with those who held positions of authority in 
the company, that he was constantly given more responsible work until, in 
April, 1908, he became superintendent. Mr. Ferguson has been so success- 
ful in his work, and is so thorough in his methods, that in June. 1912. he 
took the position of superintendent o\er mines Xos. i, 2, 3 and 4, of the 
Crown Hill section. He is also thrifty and is one of the most substantial 
citizens of Clinton. Mr. Ferguson owns his own home in that place and takes 
an active ])art in the public interests of the community. He is a Democrat, 
speaking politically, and is careful to use his influence for the best move- 
ments that sweep the country. 

Mr. Ferguson is a member of the Knights of Pythias in Clinton, Indiana, 
and his family hold as high a position in the social life of that place as he 
does in tiie business interests. Such men as Arthur Ferguson, working their 
way from humble to high positions, form the back-bone of the American 
nation, and their progress and success is the progress and success of the 
whole countrv. 



OTIS M. KFYES. M. D. 

For several generations the name of Dr. Keyes has been a familiar one 
to the citizens of Vermillion county. The father of the Doctor was one of 
the earliest practitioners in the county and he followed his profession first in 
pioneer times under conditions widelx- different from those of the present 
day. For forty-five years he practiced in the county, and before he retired 
his son had taken up his work and is now the oldest doctor practicing in the 



PAKKli AM) \KKMILLIUN COUNTIES, INDIANA. 603 

coiinly. Tlie fatlier was a man of strons^ cliaracter, firm in his devotion to his 
profession, unswerving in the pursuit of liigh ideals, a man I'f influence and 
power in his comnnmit)-. Pi is son is his wortliy successor in all respects, 
stands high in his profession, and the citizens of tiie county ha\e repeatedly 
shown their confidence in him 1)\- sending him as their rc])resentati\-e to leg- 
islative asseml)lies. 

Otis M. Keyes is the son of C'uthhert and Jane ( i^>ates ) Keycs. His 
father was born in Vermillion county, Indiana, in iHjj. and died there on 
February 8, 1885. His mother was l)orn in Indiana in iHjj and is deceased. 
Cuthbert Keyes early manifested a liking for the profession of medicine, and 
took up its study at St. Louis University. St. Louis, Missouri. He locateil in 
Helt township of this county, and there practiced for forty-fi\e years, the re- 
mainder of his life, and during this time became known to practically every 
man, woman and child in the townshi]), b\ whom he was honored and re- 
spected. To him were l)orn seven children, four of whom sin'\'ive. 

Otis M. Keyes was born in Vermillion county on August 3, 1854. After 
receiving a common school education he attended Bloonn'ngdale .\cademy for 
a time, and then went to medical .school at Louisville, Kentucky, where he 
graduated in 1878. The same \ear he took up the acti\e practice of medicine, 
which he has since followed, and has now l^een practicing longer than any 
other doctor in the county. His practice has Ijeen large and successful. 

On August 7. 1878, Dr. Keyes was married to Belle Hunt, who was 
born in Parke county. Indiana, on I'ebruary 8. 1850. the daughter of Isaac X. 
Hunt, who was a well known carriage maker of .\nnapolis. I'arke county. 
Mrs. Keyes was a school teacher for several years before her marriage. Hr. 
and Mrs. Keyes have one son. Dr. I'aul Keyes. who practiced with his father 
for seven years, but is now m Indianapolis in the auto business. He married 
Esther Collier. 

Doctor Keyes is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a Knight of I'yihias. In 
politics he is a Reptiblican. and lias taken an active interest in jxilitical and 
public affairs for years. He was for one term trustee of his township: has 
served as health commissioner: was for one term a member of the lower 
house of the State .\ssembly. and for two terms a state senator. In all his 
public life he has uniformly satisfied the people and actpiitted himself as would 
be expected from a man of his high character. The Doctor is the owner of a 
fine home in Dana, and of office property as well. He is a citizen whose life 
sets an example of dexotion to the common good in its truest sense. lx)th in 
private and ])ublic life. ;md in all his relations with his fellows. 



604 PARKE AND VERMILLION' COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

WILLIAM C. MYERS, M. D. 

There is no profession or line of business which calls for greater self 
sacrifice or more devoted attention than the medical profession and the most 
successful physician is he who. through love of his fellow men. gi\es his time 
and earnest attention to the relief of human suffering. The successful plnsi- 
cian is bound to make friends and will retain the respect and esteem of all 
classes of people. Among the citizens of Dana, Vermillion county, Indiana, 
who deser\-e specific mention in this work is the gentleman whose name ap- 
pears above, for, though but fairly started up the steeps of life's battle, he has 
chosen wisely and has de\oted his life to a profession which not onlv demands 
his closest attention and the exercise of all his mental powers, but which is 
also calculated to enlist his broadest sympathies for those whom he is called 
upon to minister to. He is well known in the communitv where he lives and 
Stands in high repute among the people with whom practicallv his entire life 
has been spent. 

William C. r^Iyers was born on Christmas day, 1887, about twenty-five 
miles west of Dana, Indiana, in Illinois, and is the son of George Washington 
and ]\Iary \i. (Jones) Myers. These parents were both natives of Illinois, 
the father having been liorn on Februarv 22. 1854. and the mother on August 
25, 1865. The father was a leading man in his community and was a ]5romi- 
nent supporter of the Democratic party. To him and his wife were bom two 
children. 

William C. ]\I\ers was reared under the parental roof and secured his 
elementary education in the public schools, being a graduate of the high 
school. He then entered the University of Chicago, where he remained 
two years, and then, having determined to make the practice of medicine his 
life work, he matriculated in the medical department of the LTniversity of 
Louisville, at Louis\ille, Kentucky, where he was graduated on May 30, 
191 X, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In July, 1912. Doctor 
Myers came to Dana, Vermillion county, and entered upon the active ])rac- 
tice of his profession. Doctor Myers made an excellent record in all the 
educational institutions in which he studied and his record there and thus far 
since taking up his life work indicates a successful career through the years 
which are to come. 

Politically, Doctor Myers is an ardent Democrat, .giving full endorse- 
ment to the tenets of that party's platform. Fraternally, he is a member of the 
Bene\olent and Protective Order of Elks and the Free and Accepted Masons. 



I'AKKK A.\D VKUMII.I.IOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 605 

at Paris, Illinois, llis religious membership is with the Cliristiaii church. 
Outside of his profession, Doctor .Myers takes an intelligent interest in the 
welfare of the community and his support may be counted npim at all times 
in favor of every movement for the advancement of the public welfare, ma- 
teriall}-, morall}-, educationally or scjcially. Genial and approachable, he has 
since locating here gained a large circle of friends and is popular throughout 
the comnuinitv. 



J.VMES FF.RC;i-SON. 



The Scotch seem to be particularK- well adapted tu mining and a num- 
ber of the best miners in Vermillion county, Indiana, are Scotchmen, either 
by birth or blood. James Ferguson ranks foremost among his fellow work- 
men in his line near Clinton, Indiana, and though he has been in this country 
since he was tw'O years old the Scotch traits are \ery strong in him and his 
steady persistence and fidelity to pin^pose have made him \aluable to his em- 
■ ployers. His father was William Ferguson, who was born in Ayrshire. Scot- 
land, on Septemljer i8, 1856. He died April _'i. 191 _'. in (dinton, Indiana. 
His mother also was born in Axrsliire, Scotland, and died in this countr\- cin 
May 26, 1890. Both parents had common school educations. They had 
seven children, three of whom are still living. 

James T'^erguson was born on Septeml)er 18, 1879, in .\yrshire. Scot- 
land. He was brought to this county at the age of two years, and came to 
Carbon, Indiana, in 1881. There he spent his youth. Later, when he had 
finished his education in the common schools, he came to Clinton, Indiana, in 
1897. Mr. I'^rguson is not a married man. lie has ;ilwa\s been a miner, 
and has been with the I'linton Coal Company for the last ten years. During 
this time he has lived in Clinton, and has made himself a ])ortion of the 
foundation upon which the life of the community is built, as be has always 
proved himself reliable and trustworthy, a kimlly neighbor and a trusted 
friend. These characteristics have also been of great assistance to him in his 
work and he is now engaged in construction work for tiie Clinton Coal Com- 
pany, having been steadilv advanced from the modest be.ginning he made ten 
years ago. lie has taken a strong interest in his wnrk, making his own wel- 
fare identical with that of tlie company, and for this reason he has made 
himself more valuable to them as the years have passed.. Mr. Ferguson has 
also found time to take part in some of the social activities in Clinton, and is a 
member of the I-lagles and the Knights of I'ythias at that i)lace. His religious 



6of'> PARKE AXD VERMILLIOX COUNTIES. IXDIANA. 

belief i- thai of tlie .Methodist Episcopal church. Politically. Air. Ferguson 
has taken his ])Iace w ith the Republicans, and is a loyal member of his party. 
He is a man of influence in the mines and in his communit}-, and his influence 
is always given to the movements for the good of the greatest number of the 
citizens of the country that is his by adoption, if not by birth. 



CH.VRLES S. REED. 



One of the best known and the most popular names of Vermillion count}-. 
Indiana, is Reed, and Charles S. Reed and his wife and daughter, living at 
Dana, Indiana. ha\e helped to make it so. Air. Reed is a prominent citizen 
and landowner and is a man of large and good influence in that county. His 
wife and daughter also join in standing for all that is most refined, cultured 
and accomplished in that i)art of the state. 

Charles S. Reed was burn Xovember 2, 1864. in Illinois, near the state 
line of Indiana. His father was Franklin Reed, who was born in North 
Carolina in 1818, and died at Sugar Grove, Illinois, February i, 1884. His 
mother was born in 1826 and died October 2. i88y. Both of his parents had 
a common school education. They had twelve children, seven of whom are 
still living. His father was a prosperous farmer and one of the first citizens 
in his community. .Mr. Reed received a common school education, and spent 
his youth in gaining that understanding of nature that can be (ibtained in no 
l)lace other than on the American farm. 

On September 2, 1887, Mr. Reed married Lydia J. Claw son, the daugh- 
ter of Phillip I', and Lncinda ( Traphagan) Clawson. She was born May 12, 
i8f)6, and was one of a family of six children, as follows: Iose])h Carter, 
now residing near Paris, Illinois: Jennie Elizabeth, of Paris. Illinois: Thomas 
Albert, of the state of Washington: Lydia J. (Mrs. Reed): Elijah Hagler, 
of Xew Mexico; Henry Harrison, of Casey, Illinois. Mrs. Reed's father was 
a well educated and prominent man in his communitx'. He died h'ebruary 0. 
1880, aged fifty-nine years, and his wife died August ig, 1878, aged forty-one 
years. Mrs, l^eed received her education at the public schools. 

Mr. Reed followed farming until eight years ago. and in it he was highly 
successful. He now owns alx)ut two hundred acres of land at Sugar Grove, 
Illinois: also one hundred and sixty acres in Oklahoma and town lots at 
\\'est St. Bernice. Ijesides two pieces of property in Dana. Indiana. His farm 
is well ctilti\aled and equipped and is very productive. In 1905 Charles S, 



PARKE A.\'I) \"EUM 11.1,11 ).\" COTXTIES, INDIANA. 607 

Reed left tlie farm and went on tlie road with the H. T. Conde Improve- 
ment Company, in which lie was highly .succe.s.sful as a salesman. In 1910 
he engaged with the I'eoria Cordage Company, of Peoria, Illinois, in whose 
employ he still continues. 

Mr. Reed is a member of the Independent Order of Odd ]<"ellows at 
Dana, and is acti\e in all the public affairs at that place. He has taken an 
active interest in the political situation and the needs of the country and has 
allied himself with the Progressive ])arty, and is (jne of its leaders in that part 
of the state. 

Not only is Mr. Reed well known for bis own sake, but he has a daugh- 
ter, jewel, who is a splendid musician and a favorite not onl_\- in Vermillion 
county, but around Terre Haute, Indiana, she being the only child of Mr. and 
Mrs. Reed. She was born December 6, 1899, and is now ready for high 
school. She has had every advantage her fond parents could give her, and as 
she showed signs of musical talent at an early age, she was allowed to begin 
taking lessons on the piano when she was six and a h;df years of age. She has 
studied with Professor Blue, of Montezuma, Indiana, and has made wonder- 
ful progress, being ready for the ninth book of the artist's course now at the 
age of thirteen years. She has a parlor-grand piann in the beautiful home 
which her father ow^ns, and her friends and relatixes and, indeed, all Dana, 
are ])roud of the progress she has made in her musical career. Her father 
and mother see that in her and her music the lessons they ha\e taught her 
will li\e for many, many years, and be given out to the world, and thus in 
her the highest ideals of the family will be given adeipiate and acti\e ex- 
pression. 



(,RO\ liR C. PRITCHETT. M. 1). 

.\niong the young professional men in Dana. Indiana, who are attracting 
attention because of their de\otion to the work is Dr. (iroxer C. I'ritchett, 
who S])ent the da\s of his vouth h\-e miles from this ])lace. He is doing this 
despite the prejudice lh;it nbtains among the older pe<ii)le of that conimunit\ 
that he is not able to administer to their ])b\sical needs ior the reason that 
they have known him from childhood, and the fact that they look askance on 
the newer methods obtaining in the medical world. 

Dr. Pritcheil >pent the greater part of his youth in the country on his 
father's farm. His father was William .\lfred Pritchett. who was lx)rn in 
Kentucky in the earl\- part of the nineteenth centurw and is now living in 



6o8 PARKE AND \ERX1 ILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Edgar count}', Illinois. His niotlitr was Molly (Glissiphj Pritchett, who 
also was a native of Kentucky. She died in 1887. They both received a 
common school education. \\'illiam Alfred Pritchett is a farmer, and still 
actively engaged on his farm in eastern Illimiis. He has fi\ e children. Grover 
C. Pritchett was born about li\e miles northwest of Dana, Indiana, in Edgar 
county, Illinois. He graduated first from the common schools and then from 
high school. Later he took a four-years course in the medical department of 
the University of Iniliana, Indianapolis, graduating in 1910. He spent his 
ne.xt vear in St. .\nthony's Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, as interne, and 
after finishing his work there he located in Elizabethtow n, Indiana. He came 
to Dana, Indiana, in June, 1912, and has been very successful considering the 
short length of time which he has had to establish himself. He has had a 
splendid education, is earnest in his work and inclineil to devote all of his time 
to his profession, as he is a single man. He is awake on all of the live topics 
of the country today, and promises to add to the professional world new 
methods, and give both the social and political community the benefit of his 
energy and keen mentality. If he ends as he has started, his career will indeed 
be a benefit to his countx' and a credit to his friends and familv. 



JOHN G. PUNTENNEY. 

Among those who have watched the growth of Parke county is John G. 
Puntenney, who is one of its oldest and most faithful citizens. He has been 
a prosperous farmer in Wabash township, near Montezuma, Indiana, for 
many years, and he has helped materially the growth of that country. His 
father made a wise selection when, after wandering over many states, he 
finally picked out Parke county, Indiana, for his home. At that time Indiana 
was almost a wilderness. A(juilla Puntenney \\as born in Virginia. During 
his carlv childhood he was brought to Kentucky, lived there for two years, 
and then moved to Ohio. At the age of twenty-one he came to Indiana, and 
settled near Terre Haute, where he stayed two years, and then mo\ed near 
Montezuma, near the present location of John G. Puntenney. He married 
Ellen Hedley, who was a native of Indiana, and died in 1842. He was quite 
successful on his farm and died there. Aquilla and Ellen Puntenney bad six 
children, three of whom are still living. 

John G. Puntenney was born December 14. 1834. in ^^'al^ash town- 
ship, Parke county, Indiana. He spent his youth as the average American 




JOHN G. PUNTENNEY. 



PARKV. AN'l) \i:i<Mi:.I,l(l.\ COUNTIES, IN'DIANA. 609 

farmer lad of tliose days, attending the country schools, workint; on the 
farm, enjoying the healthiest of ont-of-door sports, and reading during the 
long winter evenings. He was married in 1875 to Margaret Tlixon, who was 
also a native of ^Vahash townshi]), Parke county, Indiana. Her father was 
William Hixon. a well-known farmer of that district. Tiiey have two chil- 
dren. Ethel married Virgil Marshall, and they li\e near her parents in 
Wabash township. Minnie is the wife of Bert Cook, and they also live in 
Parke county. 

.\lr. I'untenney has heen \ery successful as a farmer and a general 
stock raiser, and he has one of the most productive farms in that part of the 
country. He now owns about three hundred and twenty acres of land in 
Wabash township, all of which, w ith the exception of about thirty acres, is 
tillable. Mr. Punlenney has always taken such good care of his land and 
worked it carefully, exercising good judgment in his rotation of crops and 
the general up-keep, that now it requires very little tilling to keep it in good 
condition. All the improvements on his place were made by Mr. Puntenney 
himself, and the whole well-kept place is a monument to his fore-thought, 
management and industry. He is now retired, and is living a lite of compara- 
tive ease, merely o\erlooking the work on the farm, and giving the workers 
the benefit of his years of experience. 

Politically speaking, Mr. r\intenne\- is a I'rohibitionist and he has uj)- 
held his principles stoutly in his owai countw He is a Mason at Montezuma 
and is looked upon by all those in the surrounding country as a man of ster- 
ling integrity and fine character who well deserves all good and the respect 
of all who know him. 



FRRDERICK A. MITCHEIX. 

Among the younger tillers of the soil in I'arke county whose methods 
indicate that these hardy workers are abreast of the times is Frederick .\. 
Mitchell, of near Bridgeton, Parke county, but he has had an able preceptor 
in his father, who has often been referred to as one of our best tillers of the 
soil. 

Mr. Mitchell was born on August 6, 1874, in Parke county, Indiana, and 
is a son of Abel and America (Bell) Mitchell. The father was born on De- 
cember 18, 1835, in Raccoon township, Parke county, the Mitchell family hav-' 
ing been among the early settlers here and from that remote period to the 

(39) 



ClO PARKE AND \ER1IILLI0N COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

present they have been influential in the affairs of the community. The 
father has spent his hfe in liis native township and is still actively engaged in 
general farming here. The mother of the subject was born on January 2, 
1837, in Vigo county, Indiana, and she, too, is still living. Abel Mitchell has 
always taken an interest in public aft'airs and he made two races for county 
treasurer. He has not only been a successful farmer, but also a stock raiser. 
Until recently he raised short horn cattle, also Jerseys, but not on so extensive 
a scale. For many years he followed raising, fattening and shipping cattle 
to market, and no small part of his competency has been derived in that man- 
ner. His family consisted of nine children, four of whom are living. 

Fred Mitchell grew up on the home farm and received a common school 
education, later taking a commercial course in Terre Haute. On January 14. 
1894. he was united in marriage to Bertha Coombes, who was born on the 
old hom.e place in Parke count}', Indiana, her parents having been well 
established in Jackson township, and there she grew to womanhood and re- 
ceived her education in the common schools and two years in high school. 
She is a daughter of Andy J. and Emma (Peach) Coombes. To the subject 
and wife three children have been born, namely: Odus Merril, William John 
and Louise Margaret. 

Mr. Mitchell has always followed farming with his father, and has met 
with continuous success as a general farmer and stock raiser. 

Fraternally, Mr. Mitchell is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights 
of Pythias and the Woodmen, all at Bridgeton. Politically, he is a Demo- 
crat. He was elected to the office of trustee of Raccoon township in 1898 and 
is still incumbent of the same, his long retention being evidence of his entire 
satisfaction. 



STEPHEN C. McELROY. 

It will always be a mark of distinction to have served the Union during 
the Civil war between the states. The old soldier will receive attention 
no matter where he goes if he will only make himself known, and when he 
passes away, as so many of them are now doing, friends will pay him suitable 
eulogy for the sacrifices he made a half century ago on the sanguinary battle 
fields of the South, or in the no less dreaded prison, fever camp or hospital. 
And ever afterwards his descendants will revere his meinory and take pride 
in recounting his services to his country in its hour of peril. One of the most 
eligible citizens for specific mention in a history of Parke and Vermillion 



PARKE AND VERMU.LION aUINTIES, INDIANA. 611 

counties is Stephen C. McEIroy, well known farmer of Jackson township, 
partly because he is one of the old soldiers who went forth in that great crisis 
in the sixties to assist in saving tiie union of states, and partly because he has 
been one of our honorable public-spirited citizens since the pioneer ei)och, a 
plain, unassuming gentleman who has sought to do his duty in all the rela- 
tions of life as he has seen and understood the right. 

Mr. McElroy was born on March 24, 1839, in Putnam county, Indiana, 
about five miles west of Greencastle, and is a son of William and Martha 
(Charlotte) McElroy. The father w-as born on October 30, 1793, in Penn- 
sylvania, and there he spent his earlier years, removing to Putnam county, 
Indiana, in October, 1838, and here he spent the rest of his life, dying in 
1 87 1. He was of Scotch descent and was a shoemaker by trade. He served 
in the war of 1812, and politically, he was a Whig. The mother of the sub- 
ject was born January 3, 1802, in New- Jersey, and her death occurred in 
1878. To these parents ele\en children were born, three of whom are still 
living. 

Stephen C. McElroy received a common school education. Early in life 
he took up farming and has followed this to the present time. He is the 
owner of eighty acres in Jackson township, Parke county, which is well im- 
proved and very productive, all tillable. On this he has made all the modern 
improvements now to be seen, and he has a pleasant home. 

Politically. Mr. McElroy is a loyal Democrat and has been active in local 
party affairs. He was trustee of Washington township, Putnam county, when 
he lived there, filling that office successfully for a period of five years. Re- 
ligiously, he is a Baptist, and is a deacon in the local congregation. He was 
clerk of his church for twelve years, when be resigned. 

Mr. McElroy enlisted on August 13, 1862, under the second call by 
President Lincoln for three hundred thousand men. He became a private 
under Captain Smiley in the Ninety-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at 
Greencastle, and he saw considerable hard service, some of the battles in 
which he participated being those of the canijjaign of 1864 about Atlanta, he 
having been in Alabama when it started, assisting in building a pontoon bridge 
three miles from Missionary Ridge. He was in the subsequent charge up the 
mountain there, then was sent to Knoxville. He was in several other battles, 
and finally joined Sherman on his march to the sea. and thence up through the 
Carolinas, being at Raleigh when the Southern army surrendered. I'rom there 
he marched with his regiment to Washington, D. C. and was mustered out in 
June, 1865. 

Mr. McElrov was married on March 25. 1860. to Isaliel (^ilthari). who 



6l2 PARKE AND VERMIL],10X COUNTIFS, INDIANA. 

was born on February 2, 1840, in Indiana. She received a common scliool 
education. Her parents were John and Matilda A. ( Rollings) Coltharp. 
Nine children ha\e been born to Mr. McElroy and wife, all living but one. 
They were named as follows: Granville M. married Anetta Pickett, and he 
is farming in Crawford county: Mary E. A. married L. H. Athey, and they 
live in Greencastle : Ida M. is single and living at home : William married 
Ella Smith, and they li\e in Logansport ; Joseph R. is deceased : Anna has 
remained single and lives at home : John married Maud Rogers, and they live 
in Putnam county: Henry F. has remained single and is living in Logans- 
port: Mildred Myrtle was married to Albert Cahill, who died March 3, 1908; 
she has one child. Albert ^I., who was born April 7. 1908. The mother of the 
above named children was called to her eternal rest on November 20. 1909. 



OSCAR CHESTERFIELD. 

The biographies of such men as Oscar Chesterfield, well known business 
man of Clinton, Vermillion county, are always interesting, if given only in 
brief outline, for they show what one can accomplish in this world when 
grit, perseverance and courage are coupled with sound common sense and hon- 
esty of purpose, no matter how discouraging nne"s early en\ironment may be. 

Mr. Chesterfield was born on August 10. 1875. in Clay county, Indiana. 
He is a son of John and Catherine (Martin) Chesterfield, the father a native 
of Cornwall, England, and the mother born in Indiana. John Chesterfield 
spent his early life in his native land, leaving England for the United States 
when twenty years old. He came to Brazil. Indiana, where he worked for the 
Zellar-McClellan Coal Companw e\-entually becoming superintendent of the 
same, giving eminent satisfaction in that responsible post. There his death 
occurred, when lacking two days of his forty-first birthday. His position 
with one of the largest and best known coal mines in the state made him well 
known. His family consisted of seven children, three of whom are still 
living. The mother is also living, making her home in Indianapolis. 

Oscar Chesterfield was educated in the common and high schools in 
Terre Haute, graduating therefrom in 1893. On June if>, 1900, he was 
united in marriage to Logora Jone, who was also educated in the common 
schools and the high school. To this union one child has been born, Alabel, 
who is deceased. 

Mr. Chesterfield first worked in the mines dri\ing mules, while vet a 



PARKF. AN'Il VKRMII.I.ION COfNTII'.S, INDIANA. 613 

school boy. After leaving scliool lie kept books tor a coal company at Jirazil, 
Indiana. After working with that concern for about three years, during 
which he gave the utmost satisfaction, he resigned, and later. i'"ebruary ii, 
1900, he came to Clinton. He is now operating the Clinton Bottling & Ice 
Cream Company, which he owns and which he has made a great success. lie 
started in a frame shed, twenty by twenty feet, and he is now located in a 
modern story-and-a-half brick plant, which is modernl\- equipped, all machin- 
ery and appliances being installed necessary for the rapid production of ice 
cream of a high grade and for the prompt manufacture of bottled goods, such 
as the soft drinks used at soda fountains, etc. He has built up a very exten- 
sive and rapidly growing business, there being a great demand for his 
products, owing to their superior quality and the sanitary conditions in which 
they are produced. He turns out on an average of from sixty to seventy 
boxes of soda per day. 

Fraternally, Mr. Chesterfield belongs to the Knights of I'ythias, the 
Eagles and the Owls, all of Clinton. He is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and politicall}- is a Democrat. He owns a pleasant and 
neatly furnished home in Clinton, also a \alualile dwelling in Brazil which 
he rents. 



ELMER T. WELCH. 



One of tlic progressi\e business men of the town of Bridgeton, I'arke 
county, is Elmer T. Welch, who has done much for the upbuilding of the 
place and who at the .same time has so ordered his life in all its phases as to 
gain the good will and confidence of all with w hom he has come into contact. 
He has been successful in three distinct vocations, teaching, farming and mer- 
chandising, for he has always been willing to closel\- appl)- himself and to 
labor conscientiously for the good of others while benefiting himself. 

.\ir. Welch was born on June 17, 1862. in Penn township. Parke county. 
Indiana, and he has been content to spend his life in his home community. He 
is a son of John M. and Elizal^eth (Moon) Welch. The father was born on 
June 27, 1818, in Kentucky, where he grew to manhood, receiving a meager 
.schooling and from there came to Indiana in 1833, where he s])ent the rest of 
his life, engaging in farming and carpentering. He became well known to 
the people of I'arke county in his day and generation. His wife was a native 
of this countv. and to them ten children were born, eight of whom are still 
li\ing. 



6l4 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Elmer T. Welch grew up on the old homestead and there lie made him- 
self generally useful while growing up. In the winter time he attended the 
common schools and the high school, later the Indiana State Normal. 

On June 21, 1888, Air. Welch was united in marriage to Dora Davis, 
who was born in Raccoon township, Parke county, Indiana, March 3, 1869, 
and here she grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools 
and the Indiana State Normal School. To the subject and wife two children 
have been born. Pearl C, who is attending DePauw University at Green- 
castle, and Owen D., who is a student in the high school at Bridgeton. 

Mr. Welch began life for himself as a school teacher, which he fol- 
lowed with much success for a period of ten years, during which his services 
were in great demand. He finally tired of the school room and turned his at- 
tention to farming, which he carried on with gratifying results for three 
years, then took up the grocery business in the town of Bridgeton, and this 
he has continued for the past eighteen years, during which he has built up a 
large and lucrative patronage with the town and surrounding country, always 
carrying a large line of general merchandise. He has been very successful 
in a business way. Besides his mercantile business, he owns a pleasant home 
in Bridgeton, and an undivided part in his father's old home farm. Fra- 
ternally, he is Knight of Pythias and a Democrat politically. 



GEORGE D. SUNKEL. 

There could be no more comprehensive history written of a community 
or county, or even of a state and its people, than that which deals with the 
life work of those who, Tjy their own endeavor and indomitable energy, have 
placed themselves where they well deserve the title of "intluential and pro- 
gressi\-e." In this brief sketch will be found the record of one who has out- 
stripped the less active plodders on the highway of life; one who has been 
consistent in his life work and has never permitted "the grass to grow under 
liis feet," one wlio, while advancing his own interests, has not neglected his 
full duties to the general public, at the same time upholding an honored fam- 
ily name. I\Ir. Sunkel is regarded by all who know him as one of the most 
promising of the younger lawyers of ^^ermillion county, his past notable 
achievements auguring well for the future. 

George D. Sunkel, of Dana, Indiana, was born on October 15, 1879. on 
a farm near Redman, Illinois, and he is a son of George N. and Susanna 



I'ARKK AXl) VEKMU.IJO.X Cdl' .NTIRS, INDIANA. 615 

(Young) Sunkel. The fallier was born November 29, 1854, in Ohio and 
there spent his boyhood, removing to lUinois about the time of his marriage. 
He subsequently came to Terre Haute, Indiana, where he spent five years, and 
is now Hving in Scotland, Illinois. He has devoted most of his life to agri- 
cultural pursuits. The mother of the subject was born on February 6, 1858, 
in Ohio, where she spent her girlhood days. She is still living. These par- 
ents reared a family of four children, all surviving. 

George D. Sunkel was reared on the home farm and received his educa- 
tion in the common schools and the high school. Deciding upon a legal 
career, he entered the Indiana Law School at Indianapolis, where he made a 
brilliant record, and from which he was graduated with the class of 1901. 
In 1903 he was admitted to the bar in Vermillion county and he has since been 
successfully engaged in the practice, figuring prominently in the local courts 
in important trials. He is a careful, conscientious and thoroughly up-to-date 
attorney who always has the interests of his clients at heart. He has always 
been more or less connected with farming, and he is the owner of a farm in 
Vermillion township, this county, also some valuable land in the West. He 
is the owner of a pleasant home in Dana. 

Mr. Sunkel was married on September 15. 1907, to Jennie Wimsett, 
who was born in Illinois, September 2. 1884, where she grew to womanhood 
and received a common and high school education. She is a daughter of 
Joseph M. and Ann (Nichols) Wimsett. honorable farming people. The 
union of the subject and wife has been without issue. 

Politically, Mr. Sunkel is a Democrat and has been active in the ranks 
for many years : in fact, is regarded as one of the leaders of the party in Ver- 
million county. He has served two terms as representative to the Legisla- 
ture, having been elected in 1909 and 1911. He has given the utmost satis- 
faction as a public servajit to his constituents and all concerned, making his 
influence felt for the general good of his locality and winning the admiration 
and confidence of all. Fraternally, he is a member of tiie Knights of Pythias 
at Dana. 



WilJ.IAM A. JOHNSON, M. D. 

One of the well known men of X'ermillion county who is deserving 
of special mention in a work of the province assigned to the one at hand is 
Dr. William A. Johnson, of Perrysville. who has gained prestige in the 
healing art, which is always the outcome of close application and the ability to 
applv theorv to practice in the treatment of diseases. Good intellectual train- 



6l6 I'ARKE AND VERillLLIOX COUNTIES, IXniAXA. 

ing, thorough professional knowledge and an exemplary character have rnade 
the subject of this review successful in his chosen vocation while yet young in 
years, having built up a lucrative patronage during the short time he has been 
in the practice, and, judging from his excellent start, the future must neces- 
sarily ha\e much in store for him. 

Dr. Johnson was born on Xo\-ember 5, 1883, in Fountain county, In- 
diana, and he is a son of James H. and Exelyn (Holland ) Johnson, the father 
ha\'ing been born in Fountain county, this state, in 1856, and there he grew to 
manhood and received his education in the common schools. His parents had 
located in that county when it was in its early stages of de\-elopment and thus 
the Johnsons have been well known in Fountain county for man\- decades. 
The father of the subject is now living in a cozy home in Perrys\ille. ^'ermil- 
lion county. The mother of the subject was also born in Fountain county, 
w^here she grew to womanhood and recei\ed her education. She is still living, 
the parents and son constituting a happy household, together with four other 
children, one child of the six born to James H. Johnson and wife being de- 
ceased. The father has devoted his life to farming and railroading, and is 
now lix'ing- retired. ha\ing accumulated a competency for his old age. 

Dr. Johnson grew up on the farm in Fountain county, where he assisted 
witli the work about the place when a boy, and he received his early education 
in the common schools. Early in life he determined u]3on a medical career 
and with this end in \iew he entered Loydla I'niversity, in Chicago, where he 
made a splendid record and from which institution he was graduated in 1910, 
and he at once began practice in Perrysville, Indiana, where he has since re- 
mained, having been successful from the first. 

Fraternally. Dr. Johnson is a menil>er of the Masonic order, the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pvthias. all at Perrvs- 
ville. Dr. Johnson has remained unmarried. 



JOHX .\. WELCH. M. D. 

The name of Dr. John .\, Welch needs no introduction to the readers 
of this Aolume. for his reputation as a general physician has been ever on the 
increase during the forty years of his practice at the village of Lena. Parke 
county, and he has been regarded as one of our most representative and use- 
ful citizens during that long period, while always \ery busy in looking 
after his .scores of patients, he has never lost sight of his duties as a citizen. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. LNDLXNA. 617 

upholdini^' the dignity of an lionored old Southern family name and sup])ort- 
ing every nioxenient having as its object the betterment of his adopted county 
in a material, civic or moral \va\-. 

Dr. \\'elch was born on April 2-j, 1848, -in Jessamine county. Kentucky, 
and he is a son of Thomas T. and Elizalieth (S|)ringer) Welch, both also na- 
tives of Kentucky, the father's birth Dccuri'ing m iSk; and that nf the UKjlher 
in 1821, There they grew to maturity, were educated and married, and there 
they spent their li\'es, the father dying there, after which e\'cni the mother 
came to Indiana, where her death occurred in 1901. Thomas T. Welch was a 
merchant, handling general merchandise and groceries, and was successful, 
this having been his main business through life. His family consisted of three 
sons and one daughter, all living but one. 

Dr. \\'elch grew to manhood in the Blue ( irass state and there he received 
his earh' education in the iniblic sch(_)ols. l-larly in life he decided to enter the 
medical profession and with this end in \iew he entered the Rush Medical 
College in Chicago, later studied at the L'oUege of Physicians and .Surgeons in 
Indiana])olis, and was graduated from the latter institution. Soon afterwards 
he began practicing his i)rofession at tlie tdwn of Mlmore, I'utnam county, 
Indiana, where he soon had a good start and where he remained until 1872. 
when he came to Lena, Parke county, where he has since remained, having 
enjoyed a very large practice during that period. He. has ever remained a 
student and has kept fully abreast of the times in' all lh;il pL'rtains to his call- 
ing, so his uniform success has not created any wonder, but was to be ex- 
pected, for he had, in the first place, entered his profession exceptionally well 
equipped. 

Doctor Welch was married on December 15. 1870, tn Jennie Kagan, of 
Putnam county, who was born in 1850. She received a good common school 
education, also attended high school at Cireencastlc. She is a daughter of 
Ruben Ragan, who was the first president of the Indiana Horticultural So- 
cietv and a man <if influence in his community. Seven children have been 
born to the Doctor and wife, namely: Lily is deceased: Ernest, who married 
Sadv Jorner: llattie is single and lives at home: F.dna, Belle, \'ictor and P)abe 
are all deceased. 

Politicallv. Dr. Welch is a Democrat and has been influential in his party. 
He belongs to the Masonic order at Carbon, Imliana. He has been ver> suc- 
cessful in a financial way, owning a commodious home in Lena and a fine 
farm on the Cla\- countx' h'ne. consisting of two hundred acres, all tillable, and 
his land is underlaid with a good vein of coal. 



6l8 PARKE AND \ERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

WILLIAM GOODIN. 

Tlie subject of this sketch has passed his hfe in Parke county, and as a 
representative of one of the honored famihes, early settled in this section, he 
is well entitled to representation in this volume. 

William Goodin was born on October 22, 185S, in Parke county, Indiana, 
and here he has been content to spend his life engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, at which he has been successful because he has not been afraid of hard 
work ami has managed well. He is a son of William and Mary (Hull) 
Goodin. The father was born in Ireland, in which country he spent his early 
boyhood and from which he came to the LTnited States when a young man, 
coming finally to Indiana. He had married previously and had been a school 
master, but after he took up his residence in the Hoosier state he turned his 
attention to farming, which he followed with satisfactory results during the 
residue of his days. The mother of the subject was born in Bracken county, 
Kentucky, April i, 1818, and she received a common school education there. 
Nine children were born to William Goodin, Sr.. and wife, four of whom are 
still living, Kane, of Detroit, ?ilichigan; Edwin, of Jackson township; Albert, 
of San Antonio, Texas, and the subject. 

Mr. Goodin grew up on the home farm, where he made himself gener- 
ally useful during his boyhood days, and he received his education in the 
common schools and at the Waveland Collegiate Institute. On August i, 
1878, he married Emily Miller, who was born in 1854. She is a daughter of 
James N. and Sarah A. Miller and a sister of Richard Miller, a sketch of 
whom and the Miller family is to be found elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. 
Goodin grew to womanhood in this locality and was educated here. 

To the subject and wife four children have been born, namelx' : Mary 
Ann, who married Morris Wilson, and they live in Jackson township, Parke 
county, he being a farmer; Lottie C. married William McHargue, and they 
also li\e in Jackson township ; James H. is at home ; Howard W. is also with 
his parents. 

With the exception of one year spent in the mercantile business at Mans- 
field, Indiana, Mr. Goodin has always been engaged in general farming. He 
began in a small way and, by good management and close application, he has 
been uniformly successful, being now o'ne of the most substantial and enter- 
prising general farmers and stock men in Jackson township. He is the owner 
of o\-er five hundred acres of valuable land, all in Jackson township, over 
two hundred of which is tillable. He has done a good deal of tiling and made 
such other modern improvements as his needs required. He has a substantial 



PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COUXTIKS. INDIANA. 619 

residence and large, convenient outbuildings, and always keeps a good grade 
of live stock on his place. 

Mr. Goodin has served as trustee of Jackson township, being elected on 
the Democratic ticket. He is one of the directors of the First State Rank of 
Carbon, Indiana. 



ALBERT .WE. 



Enjoying marked prestige among the attorneys of the section of the 
Hoosier state of which this volume treats, Albert Aye, of Dana, Vermillion 
county, stands out a clear and distinct hgure' among the useful men of his 
locality, which he has sought to promote in ever_\- way practicable and which 
he has ever had a love and appreciation for during his long years of continuous 
residence here. Characterized by a knowledge of the law and all phases of 
jurisprudence, and a loyalty to the higher ideals of life, he has ever enjoyed 
the confidence and esteem of all classes and is justly deserving of the material 
success he has attained and the high position he holds in the community. 

Mr. Aye was born on Noxember 25, 1849, '" Vermillion county, Indiana. 
and here he has been contented to spend his life, having ever had an abiding 
faith in the future of his home community. He is a son of Henry and Mary 
(James) Aye. His father was born on November 10, 1796, in Maryland, 
and there he spent his earlier years, removing to Indiana in 1839. and his 
death occurred on July 18. 1870. He devoted his life successfully to agricul- 
tural pursuits, and in politics he was a strong Republican. The mother of the 
subject was born in Pennsylvania on July 4. 1804. and her death occurred in 
March. 1890. Fourteen children were born to these parents, seven of whom 
are still li\ing. ilrs. Mary Aye, the mother of the subject, was a woman of 
many commendable characteristics. She was highly intellectual, one of the 
greatest readers in the country and was especially versed in ancient history 
and the Bible. The subject owes much to her careful training and guidance. 

.\Ibert Aye grew up on the home farm in his native county and recci\ed 
his priniarv education in the common schools, later taking up tlie study of law 
and was admitted to the bar in January, 1912. and has sijice l)een engaged in 
the ])ractice in Vermillion county. He has long manifested much interest in 
public affairs, and he has served as justice of the peace for a period of seven 
years, being still incumbent of that office, the duties of which he is discharging 
in a manner that is highly acceptable to all concerned. 

Mr. .\ve was married on Tnne 29, 1886. to Mary M. Randall, who was a 



620 I'AKKE AND VERMILLION' COL-NTIES. IXDIANA. 

native of Illinois, bom September lo, 1844. She is a daughter of Jacob and 
Lydia Ann ( Jackson ) Randall, her father bein.i;- quite a prominent man in 
his day. To the union of the subject and wife was bom one child, who died 
in infancy. 

Mr. .\ve is a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he is clerk 
and treasurer. Politically, he is a Republican and has been active in the work 
of his partv for some time. He owns a comfortable liome in Dana and an 
ofifice there, and he and his wife own a well improved and valuable farm, 
consisting of eighty acres in Helt township, all tillal)le. 



JACOB S. COLE. 



One of the men of Parke county wIid has li\-ed to see the great trans- 
formation from the pioneer days to the present and who has taken a prom- 
inent i)art in the same is Jacob S. Cole, of Jackson township, one of our most 
substantial tillers of the soil and a well known citizen. Mr, Cole was torn on 
I^'ebruarv 9. 1838, in Ross county, Ohio, and he is a son of John and Sarah 
(Willet) Cole. The father was born in 1796 in \'irginia. and after living 
some time in Ohio he came to Parke county, Indiana, and established the 
future home of the family in 1839 and here spent the rest of his days, dying 
in October, 1847. The mother of the subject was born in 1800 and she died 
in 1853. She was a native of Ohio.. These parents spent their lives engaged 
in general farming, and to them se\en children were liorn, two of whom are 
still living. Jacob S.. of this .sketch, and Joseph \\'.. of Bridgeton, Parke 
count)-. 

Jacob S. Cole grew to manhood on the hume faruL where he helped with 
the work about the place, and he received his education in the rural schools 
and the high school at Rockville. In i860 he was united in marriage to Eliza 
Evans, whose death occurred in 1871, and subseciuently in that year he was 
again married, his last wife being Sarah C. Langford, who was born in In- 
diana and whose death occurred in 1893. The subject's family consisted of 
seven children, namely: Albert and Rose are deceased; .Vnna married Fred 
Dicks, and they live in Summit Grove, Vermillion county: Minnie was next in 
order: Claude, who married Abbie Bartlett; Blanche married P. \\'. Reeves, 
and they live in Indianapolis; Xellie married John .\. \\'ells, and they live 
near Carbon, Clay county, Indiana. 

Mr. Cole belongs to the ^Tasonic order at Brazil, Indiana. He i!^ a mem- 



TARKK AM) VERMII.I.IOX COUNTIES. IXDIAXA. 621 

l)er of the Christian cluirch ami. pohtically. he cast his first vote for Abraham 
Linci)hi. hut is now a Progressive. He is a nienil)er xf the (irand Arinv of 
the RepubHc by virtue of the fact that in 1865 he enhsted in the Eleventli 
Indiana X'ohinteer Infantry, under Captain Mathews, in Putnam county, and 
he served \ery faitlifully on detailed duty until after the close of the war, 
being mustered out in .\ugust, 1865. 

Mr. Cole has always followed farming and has been uniformly success- 
ful, and he is now the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of good land 
on which he has put modern ini])rovements. He also owns valuable property 
in the city of Brazil, consisting of three vacant lots and three houses, which he 
rents. 



F. M. GATES. 



The record of the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is that 
of a man who by his own unaided efforts has worked his way from a modest 
beginning to a position of influence and comparative prosperity in his com- 
munity. Throughout his career he has maintained the most creditable stand- 
ards of personal and business integrity, and without putting forth any efforts 
to the end of attaining popularity he has achieved it in a local way by the 
manner in which he has ever transacted the every-day aft'airs of a busy man. 
He is one of the veterans of the greatest war which history has recorded, 
having done his part in suppressing the liosts of rebellion and treason in our 
thus for numerous reasons his life history should Ix- given space in this history. 
nation's dire.st hour of peril. He is a son of one of our best old families, and 
thus for numerous reasons his life record should be given space in this history. 

F. M. Ciates was born on May 6, 1839, in i-'ayette county, Indiana, the 
son of A. 1!. and Almira ( Boden ) dates. The father was born on January 
14. 1808. in New York, and he was one of the early .settlers of Indiana, com- 
ing here in 1816 when this state entered the Union, he being then eight years 
of age. His parents located with him in the eastern part of the state, and he 
spent the rest of his life among the Hoosiers, dying on July r. i()04. The 
mother of the subject was born in 1 814 in Ohio and died in 1867. .\. B. 
Gates followed farming. He furnished rock for several towns along the 
White Water canal, some rock for the canal when it was he'mg constructed, 
and afterwards he operated a mill. His family consisted of ten children, five 
of whom are still li\ing. 

F. M. Gates grew to manhood in his nati\e community, but lie had no 
chance to obtain an education, s|)ending atout a year in school. He never 



622 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

carried a slate. Ho\ve\'er. this lack was made up for later in life by actual 
contact with the business world and by home reading of a miscellaneous 
sort. He has been three times married, uniting with his present wife in 1887. 
She was known in her maidenhood as M. Newite. The subject has two 
children, A. B. Gates, who married A. Gargus, and they live in Logansport; 
Viola, who married George Kerr, lives in Parke county. 

Mr. Gates began the saw-mill business in 1858 in Putnam county, and 
later he helped build the Rock\-ille road. He has been very successful in a 
business way and has been retired four years. He is the owner of valuable 
land in Lena, also one hundred and forty-five acres in Jackson township, 
eighty acres of which is tillable, the balance being good pasturage. 

I\Ir. Gates enlisted in August, 1861, in Company I. Thirt}--first Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Harvey, and was sworn into the Union 
service on September 6th, of that year, at Terre Haute. Pie was sick at Cal- 
houn and laid up there three months, then was sent to Evansville, and dis- 
charged on February 9, 1863, after a very faithful service in defense of the 
flag in numerous engagements. Politicall}', lie is a Republican, and religiously 
a Baptist. 



GREEN T. TAYLOR. 

Throughout his life Green T. Taylor, one of Parke county's progressive 
farmers, has manifested the most creditable standards of integrity in both 
private and business life, which has always been one of unceasing industry 
and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable methods which he has 
followed ha\'e won him the unbounded confidence of his fellow men. He is a 
native of the Blue Grass state and, like mo.st men from there, is genial and 
hospitable and is therefore liked wherever he is known. 

Mr. Taylor was born on December 15, 1856, in Kentucky, and he is a 
son of Calvin and Rose (Smith) Taylor. The father was born in Kentucky 
and the mother in Virginia and they are both deceased. Calvin Taylor was a 
mechanic by trade, also a farmer, owning two good farms. His family con- 
sisted of five children, two of whom are still living. Green T., of this sketch, 
and John, of near Bedford, Indiana. 

Green T. Taylor grew to manhood on the home farm and received his 
education in the common schools. He came to Indiana when }-oung and was 
married in Monroe county in 1873 to Mary L. Browning, daughter of An- 
drew L. and Sarah Browning, to which union four children have been born, 



PARKE AND \i:kM 1 i.l.K IN COUNTIES, INDIANA. 623 

nauK'l} : William, who married Sarah liratton. is preaching in Xewton 
county; Calvin Y. married Lottie Martin, and they live on a farm three 
miles west of that of the subject; Lucy is at home; Rosa is deceased. 

Mr. Taylor has always followed farming and general stock raising, and 
continued success has followed his efforts. He is now the owner of two 
hundred and forty acres, about one hundred acres of which are under a high 
state of cultivation. He has improved his place until it now ranks with the 
best in the township. He has a comfortable home and good outbuildings, and 
an excellent grade of livestock is to be seen about his fields. 

Mr. Taylor is one of the honored veterans of the great civil struggle 
between the states, he having enlisted in November, 1863, in the Forty-ninth 
Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, under Captain LaForce. and he saw consid- 
erable hard service, participating in several great battles, such as Nashville 
and Perrysville. He was out a little over a year, being honorably discharged 
in December, 1865. 

Mr. Taylor attends and supports the United Brethren church. Politi- 
callv, he is a Republican and takes considerable interest in local affairs. Since 
Septeml^er i, 1910, he has been incumbent of the office of county commis- 
sioner, the duties of which he has discharged in an able and acceptable manner. 



\VILLL-\M I'. RL.AKE. 

One of the best known pioneer native sons of Parke county, gallant sol- 
dier and successful farmer and stock raiser, is William P. Blake, of Union 
township, W'here he has spent .his life, having had the rare privilege of re- 
maining on the old homestead for a period of three-quarters of a century. 
That he has been a skillful tiller of the soil is seen from the fact that he has 
kept the old place in such a condition that it has produced abundant crops an- 
nually and at the same time has not been depleted of its original fertility and 
streneth of soil. His life has been an industrious and honest one and he has 
ever stood well in the community. 

Mr. Blake was born in a log cabin on the place which he now owns on 
January 28, 1837, and he is a son of Charles L. and Barbara (Miller) Blake. 
The father was born in Ohio, in March, 1809, and his death occurred in 
March, 1878. The mother of the subject was born in 1816 . in Ohio, from 
which state she came to Indiana when a girl, and her death occurred in Janu- 
ary, 1864. These parents devoted their lives to general farming, and they 
had eight children, four of whom are still living. 



624 PARKE AXI) VERMILLION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

William P. Blake grew to manhood on the home farm and there found 
plenty of hard work to do w hen a boy, as the son of a pioneer, and he received 
a limitetl education in the common schools. 

Mr. Blake has been twice married, first in I-'ebruary, iS6j, to Louisa 
McGilvery, whose death occurred in 1874, and in December, 1877. he was 
united in marriage to Mary E. (Jack) Blake, who was bom in October, 1838, 
the daughter of James T. Jack, and her death occurred in 1910. The subject 
was the father of six children, two of whom are still li\-ing, namely: Charles 
W'., deceased; George S. has remained single: Mary E. is deceased; Cora E. 
is deceased : Sarah E. is deceased : William P. 

^fr. Blake has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and prosperity has 
attentled his efforts. He is now the owner of five hundred acres of valuable 
land, all in Union township, but about eighty acres which lie in Greene 
township. Jle has long carried on general farming and stock raising on an 
extensi\e scale, and he is regarded as one of the most successful and sub- 
stantial farmers of the county. He has a commodious home and large, con- 
venient outbuildings, everything about his place denoting thrift and good 
management. 

Fraternallv, he belongs to the Masonic order at Rockville, and polit- 
ically he is a Republican. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- 
public by virtue of the fact that he enlisted on July 31, 1862, in the Seventy- 
eighth Indiana \'olunteer Infantry. Having been on detached duty most of 
the time and sick awhile, he did not see much fighting, though he participated 
in one skirmish. He was honorably discharged in September. 1862. 



CHARLES N. FULTZ. 

It is proper that the descendants of the old settlers, those who cleared 
the land of its primitive woods, should see that the doings of the earlier years 
are fittingly remembered and recorded. It was said by one of the greatest his- 
torians that those who take no interest in the deeds of their ancestors are not 
likelv to do anything worthy to be remembered by their descendants. Charles 
N. Fultz, one of the leading young attorneys of Vermillion county, is a scion 
of one of the early families of this locality, many of whose worthy character- 
istics he seems to have inherited, for he believes in keeping busy, being public 
spirited, doing what he can toward furthering the interests of his community. 



PARKE AND VEKMIIJ.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 625 

at the same time so guarding his conduct as to merit the confidence and resiject 
of his acquaintances and friends. 

Mr. Fultz was born in Eugene township, \'ermillion county, Indiana. 
December 21, 1879, and he is a son of Albert F. and Ida M. (Johnson) 
Fultz, both natives of this county. William Fultz, great-grandfather of the 
subject, came to this county as early as 1826 or 1827, from Pennsylvania, 
and purchased land at a government sale in Eugene townslii]), on what was 
called Sand prairie, and there he followed farming the rest of his life, de- 
veloping a good farm from the wilderness through hard work and persever- 
ance, enduring the hardships incident to such a life on the frontier. He be- 
came one of the leading citizens of this locality and added to his original pur- 
chase as he prospered until he became the owner of between two thousand and 
three thousand acres of land. On part of this land lived the subject's paternal 
grandparents, Isaac and Ann (Keller) Fultz, and the subject's maternal 
grandmother, Levisa Bailey, was also a very early settler. To Isaac Fultz 
and wife were bom four children, namely: Albert, father of Charles X.. of 
this sketch ; William W., of Eugene, this county ; Clara, who married Ed. 
Whipple, deceased ; Isaac Edward w as the youngest. Albert Fultz, father of 
these children, was educated at what was known as the lies school, a mile 
north of old Eugene, and he followed farming many years, moving to the 
village of Eugene in 1884, where he followed carpentering and contracting 
and is still thus successfully engaged. He has taken an interest in public 
affairs and has been township assessor for twenty years. He married Ida X. 
Johnson, daughter of Edward B. Johnson, and to this union seven children 
were born, six of whom are still living, namely : Charles N., of this review ; 
Mamie married Earl Chaffee, of Crawfordsville; Pearl married Frank Shel- 
lenberger, of Keokuk, Iowa; Jesse, who married IHorence Turner, lives in 
Newport; Audrey and Doyne both live in Eugene, this count}-. Tiie father of 
these children is a Democrat and acti\e in party affairs. He belongs to tiie 
Loyal Order of Moose. Mrs. I-"ultz is a member of the Presbyterian church. 

Charles X'. Fultz, of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of 
Eugene, later attending the Indiana I'nivcrsity at Bloomington, from which 
institution he was graduated in ^goh. in the law department. He began life 
for himself as teacher in the high school at Eugene, in which capacity he gave 
eminent satisfaction. Since IQ06 he has been successfully engaged in the 
practice of law at Xew])ort. and has built up very lucrative and satisfactory 
l)ractice. in Xovemlier. i<;i(i. he entered into partnershi]) with Houht !'.. 
Aikman. which still continues, this l)eing one of the most pojiular tnni- in 
\'erniillion and I'arke comities. 
( 40 ) 



626 PARKE 'AXD \ER.MILl,ION COrXTIES. INDIANA. 

-Mr. I'ultz was married on April 9. 1902, to Goldie Smith, tlaughter of 
H. j. Smith, of Georgetown, Ilhnois. 

rohticallv, ]\Ir. Fultz is a Democrat and has always laeen loyal in his sup- 
port of the part}', being influential in local attairs. He was formerl\- attorney 
for Cayuga. He is a directt)r in the Citizens State Hank of Newport. Vra- 
ternally, he was master of the Masonic lodge at Newport for three years, and 
he belongs to the Royal Arch Masons at Clinton, the Order of Eastern Star, 
the Knights of Pythias and the Pythian Sisters. He is a young man of fine 
personal character and is popular with all classes. 



WILLIAM RIGGS. 



The career of William Riggs has been varied, but to whatever he has 
turned his attention to he has succeeded most admirably, for he seems to have 
a versatility of talents, and, being willing to ])ut forth his best efforts always 
and do conscientious work, he has ne\er f.niled to ha\e the confidence of his 
employers and the good will of those with whom he had dealings. He is at 
present top boss with the Mecca Coal Company, of this county, with which he 
has labored for years, mostly in a tra\-eling capacit\-. his long retention being 
sufficient criterion of his faithfulness to dut\- and also of his exemplarx' per- 
sonal habits. 

.Mr. Riggs was born nn October 10, iS()4. in Cla\- countx'. Indiana, and 
he is a son of William j. and Carolina ( Ta}dor ) Riggs. The father was a 
native of Tennessee and the mother was l)orn in Georgia, each representing 
old Southern families, and they s])ent their earlier years in the South, the 
father of the subject having renio\'ed to Indiana and locating permanentlv in 
the year 1863. .\nd here he and his wife ^pent the residue of their da\'S, both 
being now deceased, the father dying in 1883 and the mother passing away in 
1898. They spent their lives on a farm. Nine children were born to them. 
Five of whom are still li\'ing. 

.Mr. l\iL;'gs. lit tliis rexiew , grew to manhood in hi> natixe localilx. and lie 
recei\'ed his education in the pr.lilic schools. On .Max' 1 1, iS(jo. he was united 
in mari.'ige to Miram Heacox. who was born on Jul\- 31. 1S71, and who was 
educated in the common schools in I'arke county. She is a daughter of Hiram 
and F.lizal)elh ( l)eacons) Heaco.x. To the sultject and wife luue l)een l)orn 
eight children, namely: Cabin, who married May Barton, of Kockxille: 
Charles is at home: -\lbert. William, Edward, Gladvs. Sherman and Howard. 



PARKE AN'I) VF.RMILI.ION COK XTI l':S, INDIANA. 62/ 

Mr. l\ii;;i;s was reared nn a farm ami he lollnwcil llial line <'\ en(lea\'or 
with ijratitviiio- results until he was ahout twenty-tour years old. Later he 
went into the tiniher husiuess, handling;' shinj^les and staves, etc.. and he built 
up a successful trade which claimed his attention for some time. He next 
went to the Otter Creek Coal Com[)any, with which he remained. tii\'ing 
eminent satisfaction until he went to the .Mecca Coal dimpany alxmt 1900, 
and he is now to]) boss with this concern. Durins^" his twelve years of ser\-ice 
with this company he has been held in the highest esteem Ij\ his employers. 

PoliticalK, .Mr. Riggs is a Pro'gressi\-e and. fraternally, he belimgs to the 
Knights of ]'\thias. Religiously, he is a meml)er of the Methodist Iqjiscopal 
church. 



EDGAR R. STEPHENS. 

It is customary for the people of the United States to look upon every 
boy as a possible future occupant of any office within the gift of the people. 
This is one of the main reasons that we rejoice in this country and its institu- 
tions, for all parents know that it is not an impossibility for their boy to 
occupy the highest positions in [nibbc and business life in the land. There is 
something in this thought to work for. Xot merely the accumulation of dol- 
lars and cents, but the acquirement of an honored ])osition in civic and social 
circles is something worth fighting for in the great war for existence. In 
pioneer times jieople had enough to do to make a respectable li\ing, without 
taking into account the higher problems of society and civilization, but that 
time is past and a better time has arrived, with higher hopes, promises and 
rewards. Acconlingly. where once stood the pioneer caiiin is now the commo- 
dious and comfortable residence of the well-tn-do descendant, with its piano, 
its college graduate and its library of books and periodicals. P.ut the children 
of today little reckon of the many weary steps taken by their fathers to reach 
this desirable state of advancement and conifort. Edgar R. Stephens, one of 
the most progressive business men of NewpDrt. Vermillion county, is a de- 
scendant of such a pioneer. R. E. Stephens, a complete sketch of whom will be 
found on another page of this work. 

Edgar R. Stephens was born at Xewpurt Indiana. Octolier g. 1867. and 
is a son of R. h". ;uid .M. E. ( Se.xton ) Stepliens. natives of X'ermillidU county. 
each representing fine old families, members of wiiich have been well known 
here from the days of the early settlers. The subject of this sketch grew to 
manhood in his native community and here attended the public schools, later 



628 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

entering the Shattuck School at Fairbault, Minnesota, also took the course at 
De Pauw University, Greencastle, Indiana. Thus well equipped from an 
educational standpoint, he began life for himself in 1887 by engaging in the 
drug and general merchandise business in Newport, and he has continued in 
these lines to the present time with ever-increasing success, having built up an 
extensive and lucrative trade with the surrounding country. He has been 
alone all the while with the exception of two years, when he was in partner- 
ship with H. B. Rhodes. He always carried a large and carefully selected 
stock of goock and his store is neatly kept. By his courtesy and honesty he 
has won the confidence and good will of his hundreds of regular customers. 
He de\otes all his time to his business. 

Mr. .Stephens was married on January 8, 1894, to Dora Michener, daugh- 
ter of A. and Maria Michener, a highly respected family of Spencer, Indiana. 
To this union one child has been born, Charlotte Stephens. 

Politically, Mr. Stephens is a Republican and was town treasurer for a 
period of fourteen years, his long retention being sufficient evidence of his 
high standing in the community and his faithful work as a public servant. 
Fraternally, he is a member of tlie Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the 
Knights of Pythias, the Court of Honor and the Modern Woodmen of 
America, and is prominent in fraternal circles here. 



WILLIAM N. COX. 



One of the well known attorneys and business men of Parke and \^er- 
million counties who has long occupied a prominent place in the esteem of 
the people of the Wabash country is William N. Cox, of Bloomingdale. As 
an attorney he is regarded as a careful and painstaking member of the local 
bar and as a business man fair dealing is his watchword in all his transac- 
tions, so that he has always enjoyed the confidence and universal respect of 
the people of this locality. He has devoted his attention for the last fifteen 
years principally to real estate, insurance, loans and collections, in which he 
has been very successful. He is optimistic, looking on the bright side of life 
and never complains at the rough places in the road, knowing that life is a 
battle in which no victories are won by the slothful, but that the prize is to 
the \igilant and the strong. 

Mr. Cox was born on a farm in the northern part (jf Peun township, 
which his grandfather Cox entered from the government when this section 



TAKKK A.M) \I';K.\1 II.LIOX COLXTIES, INDIANA. 629 

of tlie country was a wilderness; thus the Cox family has been well known here 
since the pioneer days and its several members have played no inconspicuous 
part in the general develupmenl of the same. Pxitli .Mien Cox and Samuel 
Hockett. grandfathers of the subject (if this re\iew. were natives of North 
Carolina, having been born near Guilford. The ])arents of William X. Cox 
were Adam and Sarah Cox, well known and highly resijected ])eople of Parke 
county during a past generation. The father's death occurred on January 
17, 1812, and the mother pas.sed away on Jaiiuar\- 3, i(jo8, the former at the 
age of seventy-seven years and the latter w hen seventy-three years old. 

William N. Cox grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted 
with the general work aliout the place, attemhng tlu' local pulilic schools dur- 
ing the winter months. Early in life he entered Friends' Blorjmingdale .\cad- 
emy, taking a special course under Prof. A. !■'. Mitchell's jirincipalshi]). He 
studied law and was admitted to the Rockx illc bar in ic)(U. As \ ears ]iassed 
he began taking an acti\e interest in ]iulibr affairs ami, his jieculiar tilness for 
positions of public trust soon attracting the attention of the people, he has 
been elected to a number of important local offices, in all i>f which he has 
discharged his duties in an able and conscientious manner ;md tn the eminent 
satisfaction of all concerned, lie i> ;U tlii> writing serving his second term 
as ]>robation officer of Parke county, to which office he was ap])ointe(l b\ 
Judge Aikman. Since 1903 he has ser\ed the town of Illoomingdale as town 
clerk and is now serving as clerk and treasurer. I le is regarded as one of the 
most progressi\e and ].)ublic-spirited citizens nf lilonmingdale and ha> done 
much toward general improvement, alwavs contributing freely of his time 
and means to the town's welfare. As a business man he has built up a large 
and rapidly increasing patronage in insurance, real estate, loans and collec- 
tions. Bv his straightforward methods he has gained the confidence of the 
people. 

Mr, Cox was married in 1899 to ( Irace Cotuiellv, of Coffey\ille, Kansas, 
daughter of Charlie Connelly, who was killed by the 1 )alton gang during their 
last raid, on the Cofifeyville banks, alxtiit i8(;o, ai which time five of the num- 
ber were killed, Emmett Dalton being captured and imprisoned for a period 
of twentv-one years, and now resides in P>artles\ ille. Oklahoma. .\lr. Connelly 
was marshall of Coffeyville at the time, and was known there as a br;i\(- and 
able officer, well liked by the people. 

Mr. Cox and wife purchased a i)leasant home in Bloomingdalc at the 
time of their marriage. Three daughters, Marcia. .\ileen and Mary, were 
born to them. The wife and mother passed to her rest in 1908 at the age of 
thirtv-seven vears, her birth having occurred on August ig, 1871. Her 



630 I'AKKE AXD \ERMILI.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

mother was ^^ary McCord, daughter of Newton McCord, a prominent citi- 
zen of Parke county, in his day and generation. 

Mr. Cox has succeeded in keeping his little girls together, giving them 
e\ery possible attention and advantage. He has three brothers, U. C. Cox, of 
Bloomingdale, Indiana: E. E. Cox, a clothier of Greenville, Illinois, and A. A. 
Cox, chief contractor and builder on the agricultural exj^eriment farm, an 
adjunct to the Chicago University. 



HENRY WATSON. 



In studying the life history of Henry Watson, well known business man 
of Newport, who has long been closely identified with the interests of that 
city and Vermillion county, we find many qualities in his make-up that ahvays 
gain definite success in any career if properly directed, as they have evidently 
been done in his case. With a mind capable of planning, he combines a will 
strong enough to execute his well-formulated purposes, and his great energy, 
sound judgment and perse\'erance ha\e resulted in success, and at the same 
time he has so guarded his conduct as to retain the undivided respect and 
good will of the people of this locality. 

Mr. \\'atson was born in Helt township, X'ermillion county, Indiana, 
January 16, 1867, and he is a son of James and Lucy J. (Good) Watson, the 
father a native of Butler count}-, Ohin, and the mother of Frankfort, Ken- 
tucky. John Watson, the paternal grandfather, was a natix'e of Ohio, devot- 
ing his life to farming. He came to \'ermillion county, Indiana, where he 
spent some time, but later returned to his native state, where he died. There 
were thirteen children in his family, three of whom are still living, namely : 
James, father the subject; Lucy and Hannah. James Watson is still engaged 
in farming in Helt township. His family consists of the following children: 
James Monroe lives in Hillsdale: Henry, of this review: B. F., of Terre 
Haute ; Mary G. married W. L. Pearman, deceased : Otis A. lives in Clinton, 
Indiana; Ella, who married Lon Baum, of Clinton, and Delia, who married 
Edgar Lewis, of Kansas City, are twins: Joseph H. li\es in Terre Haute. 
James Watson, father of the above named children, followed flat-boating on 
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans in the early days, and he has 
many interesting reminiscences of those times. After lea\ing the river he 
took up farming. Politically, he is a Republican. 

Henry \\^atson grew up on the home farm in Helt township and was edu- 



rARKIi AND VHKMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 63 1 

catcd in the country schools. Early in lite he learned the barher's trade, 
which he followed for a period of twenty-five years, becoming widely known 
throughout this section. Eighteen years of that time were spent in .\'ew- 
port. In HJ02 he added gents" furnishing and custom tailoring to his ijusi- 
ness and this grew to such ])r()portions that in 1911 he al>andoned the barber 
business and has since devoted all his attention to merchandising anrl is build- 
ing uj) a large and growing trade. 

Mr. Watson was married on October 4. 1900, to Minnie Bell, daughter 
of Capt. James A. and Elizabeth Bell, an influential family of Vermillion 
county. Mrs. Watson was born in Newport, Indiana. December 31, 1872, 
and her death occurred on April 21. igii. She was a memher of the Metho- 
dist church and a prominent member of the Daughters of Rebekah. She was 
noted as a singer and was in great demand at entertainments and funerals. 
She was a woman of many winning characteristics and was popular with a 
very wide circle of frieds. 

Politically, Mr. Watson is a Republican and he was a member of the 
town board for four years, discharging his duties most faithfully. He be- 
longs to the Methodist church, and fraternally he is a member of the Knights 
of Pythias, the Independent Order nf Odfl Fellows and the Modern Woodmen 
of America. 



GEORGE H. LINEBARGER. 

Among the nati\e-born residents of Reser\e townsiiip. Parke county, 
Indiana, who have reached a well merited success we must certainly include 
the name of George H. Linebarger. He is now at the threshold of his se\en- 
ty-seventh year and his long life here has Ijeen fraught with much good, he 
ha\ ing been prosperous in his agricultural calling. l'"ew men are better known 
in this township and county than he. for here his long and active life has been 
spent and he has li\ed to see many wondrous changes take place in his home 
community, and has been no idle s]:)ectator either, having assisted in the gen- 
eral improvement of the same from his earlier years to the present time. 
Honesty and fair dealing have been his watchwords, and these twin \irtues 
ha\'c been personified in his acti\e life. 

.Mr. Linebarger was born in Reserve township. Parke county. Indiana. 
December 20, i83(). He is the son of .\ndreu and Elizabeth (Burton) 
Linei)arger. the father a native of 1-incoln county. Xorth Carolina, from 
which place he came with his parents to Parke county, Indiana, when a boy 



632 PARKE AXD VERMILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and liere spent the rest of his hfe, becoming a successful farmer and citizen. 
The mother of the subject was a native of Reserve township, Parke county. 
For a fuller account of the Linebarger family the reader is directed to the 
sketch cif Levi J. Linebarger, appearing on another page of this work. 

George H. Linebarger was reared to manhood in his native township 
and here he has been content to spend his life. He attended the public schools 
in his native community, and when of proper age took up general farming 
and stock raising, which he has continued until recently. 

Mr. Linebarger was married, first to Mary \\'right. a native of Parke 
county, this state, and a daughter of Prior Wright and wife. By this first 
union one daughter. Julia Linebarger. was born, who became the wife of 
Conrad i''arner. The wife and mother passed away in 1867, and the sub- 
ject was .■iubsequentlv married, in i87_'. to Rettie Hocker. a native of Parke 
countv. Indiana, and a daughter of L'riah Hocker and v, ife. To this last 
union have been born the following children: Mary was the eldest; Prof. 
John A., of Rockville, Indiana: Walter died when seventeen years of age; 
Ivah married Arthur Scott, and she is a missionary in South America : Mel- 
vina was next in order of birth; .\lma died when thirteen years old. 

Mr. Linebarger is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and a liberal supporter of the same, and was license<l to preach in 186(5. He 
has done a great deal of good by his church work in this locality and his ef- 
forts in every wav have been duly appreciated. He has also taken no small 
amount of interest in public afifairs and has twice been a cantlidate for the 
Legislature on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated. He has long been 
interested in educational afifairs, and his township is indebted to him for his 
praiseworthy efiforts in this line, as well as in many others. 



WORTH W. PORTER. 

Indiana has manv sons who ha\e won fame and fortune in \-arious ways, 
l)ut of none has she more reason to be i)roud than those who have brought 
order out of chaos, and. unheeding hard;^hips and danger, hewed farms from 
the forests and changed them to productive fields whence comes the sustenance 
of the people. The farmer of long ago opened the way to our present pros- 
perity when he settled in the little hut in the wilderness. The lalwr and 
thought involved in obtaining a living from the land stimulated b<ith mental 
and physical nature until he became self reliant and strong, willing to undergo 



I'AKKl-; AM) \'ICKMII.1.I0X COL'NTI KS, INDIANA. Gt,^ 

pri\'ation and hardsliij) that yoixl might result: and the manv blessings which 
have come to us through modern in\estigation and foresight are l)ut the out- 
growth t)f the self-reliant and independent spirit of the pioneer. From such 
people came Worth W. Porter, farmer of Vermillion county, of which he is a 
worthy native son. He has endeavored to carry to completion the laudable 
work begun by his forebears. 

Mr. Porter was born in Eugene township. Vermillion countw Indiana, 
June II, 1857, of Scotch ancestry. He is a son of John W. and Hattie 
(Tipton) Porter, both born in the same locality as was the subject and here 
they grew to maturity, received such education as the old-time schools af- 
foixled. and here the\ were married an(l V;penl active lives in \'erniillion 
county successfully engaged in farming. 'Pliey each represented pioneer fam- 
ilies. John Porter, the i)aternal grandfather, took up land from the govern- 
ment, and here he dex'eloped a good farm and became an inHuential citizen, 
becoming judge of this county in the early days. The father of the subject 
became one of the leading farmers and stock men in this locality. During the 
days of the Civil war he de\oted his attention exclusively to dealing in live 
stock and everybody in this .section sold their stock to him. At that time he 
sold hogs off tile scales for elexen cents ])er ponnil. INjliticallw he was a 
Republican, but has never l)een active and never held ottice. He belongs to 
the ?\Iasonic order, the lodge at C"ayuga. this count}-. His family consisted of 
seven children, onh' four of whom are now living. His death occurrefl on 
June 15. 1873, and his widow survived until July 8, 1888. 

Worth W. Porter grew to manhood in his native community and was 
educated in the ])ublic schools of luigene lownshi]). and early in life began 
assisting his father in the stock business, and later handled some stock on his 
own account. Pie remained with his father on the home farm, of which he 
now owns one hundred and fifty acres, which he has kept well improved and 
carefullv cultivated and on which he carries on general farming and stock 
raising. His father built the present commodious and attractive home of the 
Porters at a cost of si.\ thousand dollars, which was at that time one of the 
finest farm residences in this part of the state. 

Mr. Porter was married in November, i87(>, to Louisa 1-'. C'ami)bell. 
daughter of Hogan and l.ucinda (Whitlock) Cam])l)ell, who were farmers of 
Illinois. Six children have been born to the subject and w ife, namely : Jessie 
married Fred Nelson, a farmer of Canada: Jennie married Lee H. Shirk, 
who is engaged in the automobile business in Danville: Clarence is book- 
keeper for a steel plant in Colorado : Kyle M, lives on a farm in Eugene town- 



634 PARKE AND \ER.M ILLIO.N COLXTIES, INDIANA. 

ship, joining the home place ; John W. is also farming near the homestead ; 
Lee E. lives on the home place, which he operates with his father. 

Mr. Porter is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics is a 
Republican, but has held no office nor been active. 



LEVI J. LLKEBARGER. 

Among the citizens of Parke county, Indiana, who have been successful 
in their chosen vocations and whose lives have been led along such worthy 
lines of endeaxor that they have endeared themselves to their fellow citizens, 
thereby being eligible for representation in a volume of this nature, is the 
gentleman whose name appears above. Levi J. Linebarger, one of the suc- 
cessful farmers and stock men of Reserve township, has had the opportunity 
vouchsafed to few of us to spend his life at the old home, which fact has 
been much appreciated b}'^ him, as indeed it should be, for there is no place 
like home, as the world knows and as has been touchingly told in the familiar 
lines of the old song. 

The birth of Mr. Linebarger occurred on the farm on which he now 
li\'es on April 29, 1844, and there he was reared to manhood and has always 
resided, helping to develop it when a boy, and during his manhood years he 
has so skillfully managed it that it has retained its original fertility of soil 
and has yielded him a comfortable income from year to year. He is the son 
of Andrew Linebarger, who was born in Lincoln county. North Carolina, in 
181 5, and when five years old he came with his parents on the long, tedious 
and somewhat hazardous overland journey from the old Tar state to In- 
diana, and in 1822 they settled in Reserve township, Parke county, beginning 
life here in typical pioneer fashion, the country being very little impro\-ed 
and neighbors being few and far remote. Here Andrew Linebarger, the 
father of the subject, spent his remaining years, dying at the remark- 
able age of ninety-two. The mother of the subject of this review was 
known in her maidenhood as Elizabeth Burton, a native of Reserve township, 
this county, and a daughter of Levi Burton, one of the early settlers of that 
township. Later in life ^Ir. Burton removed to Lee county, Iowa, where he 
died. The mother of the subject passed away at the age of twenty-six years, 
leaving a family of six small children, namely: George H., Mary Ann, ^^'ill- 
iam S., David, Levi ]. (the subject), and Andrew Jackson. The father of the 
above named children married for his second wife Polh' \\'arner, a native of 



. I'AUKE A.\D VKRMlI.l.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. ()^Z, 

Resei\e township, this county, and a daughter of Joel Warner, an early set- 
tler here. Ten children were liorn of this last marriage, nanielx' : Lewis C, 
Joel. Samuel, Jacob, Juseph H., Elizabeth. Ida. Ludah, Emma ami Alice. 

i\s stated, Le\i J. Linebarger has devoted his life to general farming 
and has long ranked with the leading tillers of the soil in his section of the 
country. He has de\oted a great deal of attention to stock raising and deal- 
ing in stock, being one of Uie most successful and best known stuck men in 
this part of the country, tie is the owner of several valuable farms, and be- 
fore the death of his father they were in i)artnership in farming and handling 
live stock, and were very successful. 

Mr. Linebarger has always taken a great deal of interest in public af- 
fairs and has been ready to assist in all worthy movements for the general 
good of his county. He was elected county commissioner November 5, 1912, 
being one of the few Democrats elected to that office in many years. 



FRANK R. JOHNSON. 

We rarely hnd two persons in every-day life who attribute their suc- 
cess in their different spheres to similar qualities. Hard work and plodding 
industry paved the way for one, good judgment and a keen sense of values 
for another, intuition and a w ell-balanced mind for the third. An admixture 
of some of the qualities mentioned above, emphasized by hard work, has been 
responsible for the success of Frank R. Johnson, tlie present popular and effi- 
cient county recorder of Vermillion count)-, in his battle for the spoils of vic- 
tory, these winning attributes having descended from a sterling ancestry who 
played no inconspicuous part in the early history of Vermillion and neighbor- 
ing counties, having done their share of the rough w ork necessary to redeem 
the fertile land from the wild state in which the first settlers found it, and it is 
to such as these that we of totlay are greatl\- indebted for the good farms, the 
thriving towns and the excellent schools and churches to lie found in every 
community. 

Mr. Johnson was born in Gessie, X'ermillion county. Indiana. March 27. 
1882, and he is a son of A. J. and Dessie (Johnson) Johnson, natives of 
Fountain and ^^ermillion counties, respectively. The father came from Foun- 
tain county in 1870 and located with his father about two miles north of 
Gessie. He has followed school teaching all his life and has been mo.st suc- 
cessful, l)eing one of the best known educators in this section of the state, his 



636 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

serxices having always been in great demand. He is still living, making his 
home at Perrysville, Vermillion county. To A. J. Johnson and wife four 
children were born, namely : Lulu married George Miller, a merchant in 
Dan\-ille, Illinois; Frank R., of this review: George is a locomoti\e fireman 
and lives at Danville. Illinois: Edna B. married Dr. Ernest A. Dale, of Dan- 
ville, Illinois: she is a talented musician, has been a successful instructor in 
music, and has traveled extensi\ely. The father of the abov£ n.amed children 
is a member of the Baptist church, and jiDlitically he is a Democrat. He was 
superintendent of schools of \'ermillion count^■ for two terms, discharging 
the duties of this important office in a manner that reflected much credit u])on 
himself anrl tn the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. Fraternalh-, he is a. 
Mason. 

Frank R. Johnson, of this sketch, was reared and educated in his native 
county, later attending school at Valparaiso, Indiana. Following in his father's 
footsteps in a professional way. he began life for lu'mself b\' teaching .school 
for a period of ten years, during which time he gave eminent satisfaction to 
both pupil and patron. He began taking an interest in public afifairs and in 
1910 was elected county recorder of Vermillion county and is still incumbent 
of this office. He has discharged his duties in this connection with a fi(lelit\'. 
energv and honesty that has won the undi\ided i^raise of all concerned, irre-' 
spective of party alignment. 

Mr. Johnson was married on July 10, 1910, to Etta Thomas, daughter 
of Jerome B. and Ruth Ann (Lindsey ) Thomas, a highly respected family of 
Cayuga. Tliis union has been blessed by the birth of one child, Frank Dale. 

Politicallv, Mr. Johnson is a stanch Democrat and was clerk of the vU- 
lage of Cayuga for one year. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order 
and the Knights of Pythias. 



WALTER B. SHANNON. 

Dependent \er\' largely upon his own resources since early youth, \\ al- 
ter B. Shannon, one of the substantial and representative citizens of Bloom- 
ingdale, has attained no insignificant position, and though he has encountered 
many obstacles, he has pressed steadily on and has won an eminent degree of 
success, being today one of the foremost business men of Parke county, 
the proprietor of one of the mo.st extensixe poultry Inisinesses in this and \'er- 
million comity and being widely known in that field of endeavor. 

Mr. Shannon was born December 23, 1863. on a farm in Putnam county. 



I'ARKK AND X'EK.M ] I.I.ION COL'XTIES, IXIUAXA. (137 

Indiana, and tliere he assisted with llic general wurk durini; tlie croi) sea- 
sons, attending the neighboring schools in the winter time, lie is the son of 
Jgnatins and Martha (Carter) Shannon, Ixith nati\es of Kentucky, the 
father having come to Indiana in 1835 and settled in .Montgomerv county. 
Soon after his marriage he entered mercantile ])ursuits at I'arkersburg, in 
which he continued until 1S73, then mo\ed lo Shannondale, Montgomery 
county, where he made his home until iSSj, when he moxed his store to the 
town of Raccoon, that county. When his wife died, on July 23, lyoi, he 
sold out and s];ent mo.st of his time in Blooniingdale with his .son Walter B.. 
of this sketch. But desiring to resume his old line of endea\'or, he returned 
to Raccoon in 1909 and took u]) general merchandising again. He has, how- 
ever, again abandoned the same and is li\ ing in Blooniingdale. being now ad- 
vanced in years. He has been \ery successful as a business man and has a 
host of warm friends wherever he is known. 

In 1882 Walter B. Shannon began his business life b\- clerking and 
driving huckster wagon for his father, continuing thus until 1888, when he 
took up a traveling position for Hutchinson Brothers, of Lafayette, during 
1888 and 1889, giving that lirm eminent satisfaction. But desiring to engage 
in business for himself, he returned to Raccoon and in April. 1899. he came 
to Blooniingdale and started a poultry establishment with Ha\ens I'rothers of 
Ladoga. They .started on a small scale with .\lr. .'-Shannon acting as local 
manager, bookkeeper, etc., with a force of only three heli)ers. l>ut the subject 
proved to be a man of progressive ideas and rare hustling qualities, so he soon 
had the business well established and now it has assumed very large propor- 
tions under his able management and close ajjplication, it being necessary to 
employ seven men and a stenographer to assist him in carrying on the busi- 
ness which he has built up. They have recentl_\- purchased the i)oultry l)usi- 
ness at Rockville, where five additional employes are required. They cover 
a very large territory, gathering poultry from all ])arts of the count\ of Parke. 
and Mr. Shannon has taught the ])eople of this locality how pnilitable poultry 
raising really is and much more attention is being given this line of industry 
bv the general farmer than ever before and this promises to be one of the 
leading industries of this and adjoining counties in a short time. 

Mr. Shannon i^ regardetl as one of the inlluential and useful men of 
Blooniingdale, assisting all nunemeiits looking toward the general upbuilding 
of the town and working unselfishly to help along all projects of industry that 
are presented. 

On June \C>. iS<)_', Mr. Shannon was married at Crawfordsville. Indiana, 
to Marv I'dlen ()wen<. of rarkersburg. Indiana. She is the daughter of 



638 PARKE AXD VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Lazarus and Eliza Owens, natives of the South. In 1902 the subject and 
wife purchased a beautiful home in Bloomingdale, where they lived happily 
until the death of Mrs. Shannon. June 8. 1907. She was a woman of many 
commendable characteristics and was loved by a wide circle of friends. Mr. 
Shannon nnw resides in the hotel at Bloomingdale. 



HOMER B. AIKMAN. 

Whether the elements of success in this life are innate attributes of the 
indi\idual or whether the\' are quickened by a process of circumstantial de- 
velopment, it is impossible to clearly determine. Yet the study of a success- 
ful life, \vhate\er the field of endeavor, is none the less interesting and pro- 
fitable by reason of the existence of this same uncertainty. So much in 
excess of those of success are the records of failures and semi-failures, that 
one is constrained to attempt an analysis in either case and to determine the 
measure of causation in an apjjroximate wa}'. But in studying the life record 
of Homer B. Aikman, prominent young lawyer of Newport and scion of one 
of the distinguished and influential families of ^'ermillion county, members 
of which have played a conspicuous role in the local drama of civilization 
since the days of the Indian and wilderness, we find manv (|ualities in his 
make-up that always gain definite success in an\' career if properly directed, 
as they ha\e evidently been done in his case, he i>eing a man of broad mind, 
strong will, keen discernment, sound judgment and perseverance, backed by 
an honesty of purpose. 

Mr. Aikman was born in Helt township. \^ermillion countv. Indiana. 
Februar\- 2\. 1883. and he is a son of Peter and Ellen (Brown) Aikman. 
the father being a brother of Judge B. S. Aikman. a complete sketch of whom 
and the .\ikman ancestr\- a])pears on other pages of this work. Peter .\ik- 
maii was educated in the country schools and in .\sbury ( now DePauw ) 
Universitv at Greencastle. He devoted his life successfully \n general farm- 
ing in this countv. and for twelve vears was postmaster at Dana, and still 
resides in that town. He was treasurer of \'ermillion county for two terms. 
He is well known throvighout the countx' and is highly respected for his life 
of industry, public service and honorable record as a man and citizen. His 
family consists of four children, namely: Iva married Ed. Fnncannon. a 
farmer of Helt township ; Grace married Stephen L. Jenks. a traveling sales- 
man of Clinton. Indiana : Jennie married Dr. W. D. Gerrish. of Clinton. 



PARKK AND \-ERi\niJ.inX COfXTIKS, IXDIANA. 639 

Indiana; and I lonicr I'... of this .sketch, wlm is the youngest. Peter Aiknian 
is a Repuhhcan, and he belongs to the Tresbyterian church. Fraternally, he 
is a member of the Alasonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd Fellows. 

Homer P.. .\iknian grew to manhood in his native count}' and was edu- 
cated in the Uana high school and the law de])artment of the University of 
Indiana, at Bloomington, from which institution he was graduated with the 
class of 1904, having made a splendid record for scholarship. Immediately 
thereafter he came to Newport and formed a |)artnershi]j with Hon. B. S. 
Aikman, and they continued most successfully in the practice of law until 
the senior member of the firm was elected judge and went on the bench in 
November, 1910. The subject then formed a partnership with Charles X. 
Fultz. which still continues, this association being one of the most popular 
firms of young lawyers in western Indiana. Mr. Aikman has been very suc- 
cessful and is rapidly winning his way to the front rank of the local bar. He 
is a deep student and keeps fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to 
his profession. He has nian\" of the natural prerecpiisites of the successful 
attorney, such as perseverance, keen foresight, self-control, courtesy and hon- 
esty. 

Mr. Aikman was married on July 2q. 1903. to Helen Shaml)augh, a 
daughter of \. L. Shambaugh and wife, a prominent family of Lafayette. 
Indiana. To this union two children have l)een born. namcK : Pete, now 
seven years old. and Mary Louise, who is one year old. 

.Mr. Aikman dex'otes his undivided attention to his fast-growing legal 
practice. Pie is a stanch Republican, and he belongs to tlie Knights of 
Pythias and the Kappa Sigma and the Phi Delta Phi. college fraternities. 
He is a young man of ]ileasing persona!it\' and is popular with ;d! classes. 



ROBERT IK\1.\ .^roXF. 

One of the worthy native sons of Parke county who has not cared to 
follow the beckonings of the wanderlust spirit that tries to lure away all 
youths from their native haunts into .some unknown region, is Robert Irvin 
Stone, he having been content to spend his life in this locality where his 
people have been well and favorably known since the pioneer epoch, and here 
he has labored to successful ends in his cho.sen field of endeavor. 

Mr. Stone was born on a farm east of Rosedale. Parke count\ . Indiana. 



640 PARKE AXU \ER.MILI.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

October 18, 1864, his parents having been living at tiiat time on what is 
commonly known at present as the Doty farm. He is a son of Cass M. and 
Laticia (Gott) Stone. The father was born in Trimble county, Kentucky, 
w here he spent his boyhood and he was a young man when he came to In- 
diana, his father. Henry H. Stone, coming later on to this state and estab- 
lishing his residence with his children, seven sons and daughters having been 
born to him, named as follows: ]\irs. Julia Xiclmlas, who lixes in Terre 
Haute. Indiana; Mrs. Jennie A. Stoner, of Boone count}-. Indiana: William 
H. is deceased: Robert Irvin, of this sketch; Cora A., who married a Mr. 
Griffin; Mrs. Mamie M. Johnson was next in order: and Clarence G., who 
\vas the youngest. 

Robert I. Stone grew to manhood in Parke county and here he recei\ed 
a public school education, working on the home farm during his boyhood 
days, and when twenty-one years of age he started out f(jr himself. He lived 
in Muntgomer}' county, this state, for a period of three years, but this was 
not many miles from his birthplace. He worked on a farm there, and, 
saving his money, soon had a start, and is now owner of ninety-two acres 
of very productive and well improved land in Parke county, and is also inter- 
ested in the place where his brother, Clarence Stone, lives. He has been \er\' 
successful. 

Mr. Stone was married on April 28. 1889. to }ilamie ]M. ^Montgomery, 
and tn this union two children were born: Homer, who married Hazel 
Grimes, a native of Parke county, and they ha\e one child. Rachael ; Herman, 
second child of the subject, is at home. 

Mr. Stone is a Democrat, but is not active in ])ul)lic affairs. Religiously. 
the Stone family are Baptists. 



GEORGE L. LAXEY. 

.Vraong the strong and influential citizens of I'arke county the record of 
whose lives have become an essential part of the history of this section of the 
far-famed \\'abash country, the gentleman whose name appears above occu- 
pies a prominent place, and for many years has exerted a beneficial influence 
in the community in which he resides, being a man of progressive ideas and 
high ideals, public spirited and unselfish motives. Mr. Laney is a wide- 
awake, energetic man of affairs, of sound judgment and modern business 
principles, and he has always succeeded at whatever he undertook. 




GEO. L. LANEY. 



PAUKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 64I 

George L. Laney, who is the present able and popnlar incumbent of the 
office of county clerk of Parke county, was born on April 8, 1863, in Mc- 
Donough county, Illinois. His parents were Levi D. and Mary (Devlin) 
Laney. The father was burn in Lincoln county, Kentucky, February 14, 
1814, and the mother was l)orn in county Tyrone, Ireland, March 12, 1832. 
Levi D. Laney was a minister in the Baptist church, also a farmer, a good 
and influential man. He came to Parke county, Indiana, as early as 1829 and 
located on a farm in Florida township, section 29, with his father, James 
Laney. (The name was originally DeLaney.) They began life there in 
typical pioneer fashion, the country being practically a wilderness and neigh- 
bors few. Levi D. Laney remained in Florida township until 1852, when he 
removed to McDonough county, Illinois, where he lived until 1870, when he 
removed to Decatur county, Iowa, and lived there until July 2^, 1872, 
when he came back to Indiana, locating again in Parke county, August 23, 
1872, in the same section and township where he had previously lived, and 
there he remained until his death, February 22, 1892, at the age of seventy- 
eight years. The mother of the subject spent her early girlhood in Ireland, 
from which country she came to America in 1837 with her parents, who lo- 
cated at Fairfield, Vermont. She was educated in the convent at Montreal, 
Canada, from which she was graduated w-ith the class of 1850. Her mother 
(bed in 1838 in \'ermont. and her father came to Galesburg, McDonough 
county, Illinois, soon afterwards. Mrs. Laney was the youngest of five chil- 
dren, and she and Levi D. Laney were married in McDonough county on 
July 3, 1863. The death of the mother of the subject occurred on March 22, 
1890. Besides the subject one other child, Andrew J. Laney, of Terre Haute, 
Indiana, was born to Levi D. Laney and wife. 

George L. Laney grew to manhood on the home farm and he has spent 
the major portion of his life on a fann. He assisted his father with the gen- 
eral work about the place when a bo\' and received his early education in the 
country schools of Florida township, being nine years old when his parents 
came to Parke county. He later attended the Central Indiana Normal at 
Ladoga. He began life by teaching school, which he followed for a period 
of eight years in Florida township, in country schools, having the utmost 
success. He worked in the coal mines six years. All this time lie was living 
on the small home farm and did more or less farming. He also worked as a 
Iniilder and contractor later. From 1900 to 1904 he was traveling for the 
Meridian Life & Trust Company as state supervisor of agents, having started 
(4O 



642 PARKE AXl) VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

in as a solicitor and being rapidly promoted. In 1900 he made the race for 
trustee of Florida township on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated In- 
one vote, but the candidate for president was defeated by three iumdred 
votes in that township. This would indicate Mr. Laney's popularity in his 
home communitv. In 1904 he was again nominated for trustee and was 
elected by seventy-eight votes. He served three years, ten months and 
twelve days, resigning to accept the office of county clerk, as he was nomi- 
nated July II, 1908, for that office and elected the following November by 
ninety-three plurality. The county is nominally Republican. In 1904 the 
Republicans carried Parke county by twelve hundred votes, in 1906, by seven 
hundred and sixty-three. Mr. Laney took office November 23, 1908. He re- 
fused to accept renomination, although he could have unquestionably re- 
ceived it and been elected a second time. As a public ser\-ant he has ever 
given the utmost satisfaction to all concerned, irrespective of party align- 
ment. 

Mr. Laney seems to have inherited from his ancestors many of the quali- 
ties that win, for thev were people of exceptional traits of character on both 
sides of the house. James Laney, his paternal grandfather, was born January 
7, 1792, in North Carolina, and the paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Davis, 
was born in Virginia in 1796. The great-grandfather on the paternal side 
was born in Ireland. John Devlin, the great-grandfather on the maternal 
side, was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, and the maternal great-grandmother, 
Katharine Allen, was also a native of county Tyrone. The mother of the 
subject was a prodigy in mathematics, having remarkable ability in this line 
and a good memory. She spoke four languages fluently, English, French, 
Italian and German. 

Fraternally, George L. Laney, is a thirty-second-degree ]Mason, belong- 
ing to Parke Lodge No. 8 at Rockville, also the Royal Arch Masons, Chapter 
No. 8, Rockville, the Scottish Rite at Indianapolis and the Murat Temple, 
Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Indianapolis. He 
was a member of a class of seventy-eight persons and at its organization was 
elected class treasurer, w-hich position he still holds. He is a member of 
Rosedale Lodge No. 698, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Rosedale, 
Rockville Encampment No. 85, also belongs to the Rebekahs. ]\Iary Lodge 
No. 35, of Rosedale. Also Rosedale Lodge No. 224, Knights of Pythias, 
and Bethel Temple No. 85, of Pythian Sisters, at Rosedale. He has long 
been prominent in fraternal circles. 

Mr. Laney was married on October 9, 1888, to Roseanna Parker, daugh- 



PARKE AXl) VERMH.I.IOX COUNTIES. INDIANA. 643 

ler of Henry S. and Mary (Boatman) Parker, a highly res])ected family of 
Florida township. Parke county. To this union two children ha\'e been born, 
namely: Frances E., born October 26, 1889, and Calvin D., born February 
17. 1 89 1. The latter is engaged in the automobile business in Rockville. He 
is probably the youngest Mason in the state, surely the youngest in Parke 
county. He holds membership in Parke Lodge No. 8. 

Air. Laney is not a member of the church, but his family holds member- 
ship in the Christian church. He is a member of the Bible class of the 
Methodist Episcopal church and attends Sunday school. 

The subject was one of the promoters of the new opera house at Rock- 
ville and secretary of the company. He is one of the most progressive men 
in Parke county and also one of the most popular, his popularity extending to 
all classes, for everyone has found him to be always straightforward, honest, 
sincere and dependable. He is a man who would go a long way and fight 
hard for his friends. There is nothing ostentatious about him, plain and un- 
assuming in everything, of a fine morality and generous disposition. He 
wants to help every good cause for the community and everybody in need of 
help. He is a fine type of the successful, useful, progressive, self-made man 
and is eminently deserving in eveiy way of the high esteem in which he is 
unixersallv held wherever he is known. 



I. M. CASEBEER, M. D. 

The writer of biography in the personal history of men engaged in the 
\arious affairs of every-day life, occcasionally finds a subject whose record 
commands exceptional interest and admiration, and especially is this true 
when he has achieved more than ordinary success or made his influence felt 
as a leader of thought and benefactor of his kind. Dr. I. M. Casebeer, of 
Newport, is eminently of that class who earn the indisputable right to rank in 
the van of the army of progressive men and by reason of a strenuous career 
devoted to the good of his fellows, to the alleviation of their physical suffer- 
ings, he occupies a position of wide influence in the hearts and affections of the 
people, and his name is I^ecoming a household word throughout \'ermillion 
county. 

Dr. Casebeer was born in Hillsdale. \'ermillion county, Indiana, October 
29, 1869, and he is a son of John Wesley and Martha (Rush) Casebeer, na- 
tives of Mansfield, Ohio, and of this county, respectively. The father spent 



644 PARKE AND VERIIILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

his life in farming, and he came to Vermilhon county in 1848 and farmed land 
entered b}- the subject's maternal grandfather, Samuel Rush, when there 
were only four families living in this locality, and he followed farming here 
the rest of his life, becoming well known and influential among the pioneers. 
John Wesley Casebeer was born in 1831 and he is still living in the town of 
Hillsdale. His wife passed away on March 24, 1912, at the age of seventy- 
two years and eleven days. They were the parents of the following children : 
Samuel died of sunstroke when eighteen years old: Alvin B.. who is farming 
in Vermillion county :Ella, who marrieil George W. James, of Hillsdale. 
died in 1891 ; John Wesley, Jr., died March 30, 1910; Dana \'. died in in- 
fancy; I. M., subject of this review. 

The father of the abo\e named children is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and has been class leader for forty years and a pillar in^the 
local congregation. He is a Democrat and Prohibitionist. He was married 
for a period of fifty-seven years, and it must stand to his credit to say that 
he never took a drink of intoxicating licjuor in his life. 

Dr. Casebeer was educated in the common schools of his natix'e locality, 
and spent one year in the Central Indiana Normal School, then three years in 
DePauw University. He then entered Rush Medical College in Chicago in 
1890 and was graduated from that institution in 1893 with the degree of 
Doctor of Medicine. He began practicing his profession at Hillsdale and 
soon had an excellent start, remaining there until 1899, when he established 
his office at Mentone and was there until the spring of 1903, and since then 
he has been in the practice at Newport. He has a large and rapidly growing 
patronage and has been most successful as a general practitioner. He has re- 
mained a student of all that pertains to his profession, and has kept abreast of 
the times in every respect. He stands high among his professional brethren 
in western Indiana. 

Dr. Casebeer was married on October 31, 1893, to Daisy A. Smith, 
daughter of John \V. Smith, well known attorney-at-law at Rochester, In- 
diana, and to this union two children ha\-e been horn, Paul P)e\'in and John 
Smith. 

Dr. Casebeer is a loyal Republican and a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. He is at this writing health officer of Newport, is president of 
the town board and trustee, and he was appointed United States examining 
surgeon in 1898, which position he held until he left the county, and upon 
his return was re-appointed in 1903. He has given eminent satisfaction as a 
public ser\ant. He is medical examiner for all the old-line insurance com- 
panies in this locality. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 645 

Pythias and the Independent Order ut Odd I-'ellows. He is a menil)er of the 
\'igo County Medical Society, the Inthana State Medical Society, the iMtth 
District Indiana Medical Society, and the Esculapiatis. The Doctor has been 
very successful in a financial way, and he is the owner of an excellent farm of 
sixtv-five acres on which are located some valuable shale beds. 



JAMES W". ADAMS. 



One of the influential men of affairs in Parke county, both in business 
and civic circles, is James W. Adams, the well known president and manager 
of the Rosedale Creamery Company, whose indomitable courage, persistent 
and aggressive efforts and whose excellent management have brought to him 
the prosperity which is to-day his. He has ever been ready to do what he 
could in pushing forward the wheels of progress and advancing commercial 
prosperity in this \icinity, and his career, both pul^lic and private, has been 
one worthy of the high esteem and praise which those who know him so freely 
accord. 

Mr. Adams was born Xoxember 24, 1853, in Raccoon township, Parke 
count}-, Indiana, on a faruL and he is a son of James W. and IMinerva (Snow) 
.•\dams. The father was a well educated man, having been a graduate of 
De Pauw University, and he devoted his life to school teaching and farming, 
making a success of each. He was also a native of Parke county, being a 

son of Samuel and (McGinnis) .\dams, who were among the earlv 

settlers of this county, and here the\' spent their lives engaged in farming: 
thus the Adams family has been well known in this locality during all its 
development, in w hich they took a leading part. 

James W. .\dams, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm, 
and he received his early education in the common schools of his native 
countN'. He prepared for college, but never took a collegiate course. He was 
twent\ -one years old when he left his step-father and went out into the world 
to make bis own fortune, working at farm work for some time, lie learned 
harness-making in his youth, also carpentering, and he worked at both for 
many years, then took up farming again and liecamc the owner of a fine 
farm north of Rosedale in Florida township, which consists of one hundred 
and twenty acres, well im])ro\ed and \ery i)roductive. This he mnv rents, 
devoting his attention exclusively to the large creamery of which he is the 
head and which does a very extensive business, its products being in great 



646 PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COUNTIES. INDIANA . 

demand owing to their superior quality. Fraternally, he belongs to the 
Knights of Pythias, and he is a member and trustee of the Alethodist church. 
Mr. Adams was married to Hannah Myer, of Indianapolis, and they 
have three children : Lottie, a high school graduate, married Charles Rukes ; 
Fred E. married Anna Dean, of Preble county, Ohio; Gilbert E. is in Purdue 
University, taking the course in electric engineering. 



THOMAS BINGHAM. 

It mav be true, as once stated, that some of the countries of Europe have 
not sent their best citizens to America, that those who belonged to the thriftiest 
and best classes have remained in their own native lands. This may be true 
of some nations, but it is certainly not true of Scotland, for all will agree 
that from the earlier years of our national history Scotchmen of the very 
best type have been coming to our shores and here they have benefited alike 
themselves and us. And we have ever welcomed them, for they are, almost 
without exception, law-abiding, thrifty and honorable and they do well in 
this land of the free. There are many of this desirable race in the locality of 
which this volume treats. One to whom we desire to call especial attention is 
Thomas Bingham, the able and popular superintendent of mines for the Parke 
County Coal Company. He was born jn Scotland on May 13, i860, and he 
is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Holden) Bingham, both natives of Scotland, 
where they grew up and were married, and there Thomas Bingham followed 
the mines, never leaving his native country. He met with an accident which 
cost him his life, after which the family came to America, the widow bringing 
her three children here, passed the residue of her days in the United States, 
dying some time ago. The family consisted of May, David and Thomas the 
subject, who was about five years old when he crossed the Atlantic to our 
shores. 

The Bingahm family located at Brazil, Indiana, and there Thomas grew 
to manhood and was educated in the conuuon schools, though his education 
was interrupted, for he was compelled to help support his mother and the rest 
of the family and he went into the mines when only ten years of age, he hav- 
ing been a thrifty youngster. He started as a trapper boy and, being indus- 
trious and learning rapidly, he was promoted from time to time, always giv- 
ing his employers satisfaction. Finally he came to Parke county. Indiana, 
and became superintendent for the Parke County Coal Company, which posi- 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 647 

tion he has tilled to the present time with much credit to himself and satisfac- 
tion to all. 

Mr. Bingham was married on October 21, 1880, to Miriah Johnston, 
from Pennsylvania, and to this union three children were horiL namely: 
Sallie, Anna and Nellie, the last named being deceased. 

Fraternally, 'Slv. Bingham belongs to the Independent Order of Odd 
l'\'llows and the Impro\ed Order of Red Men. 



E. E. NEEL. 



It cannot be other than interesting to note in the series of personal 
sketches appearing in this biographical compendium the \arying conditions 
that have compassed those whose careers are outlined, and an effort has been 
made in each case to throw well focused light on the individuality and to 
bring into ])roper perspective the scheme of each representative character. 
Each man who strives to fulfill his part in connection with human life and 
human activities is deserving of recognition, whatever may be or have been 
the field of his endeavor, and it is the function of the works of this nature to 
perpetuate for future generations an authentic record concerning those repre- 
sented in its pages, and the value of such publication is certain to be cumula- 
tive for all time to come, showing forth the individual and specific accom- 
plishments of which generic history is ever engendered. The record of such 
a man as he whose name initiates this review is well worthy of preservation, 
for it shows what mav be acc(>m])lislied early in life if one has the courage, 
grit, perseverance and honest}- of purpose to press forward despite obstacles. 

E. E. Xeel, of Newport, one of the most successful and popular attor- 
ney.s-at-law in \'ermilliou and Parke counties, was born near Gessie. High- 
land township. \'ermillion county, Indiana, November 15. 1870. He is a 
son of Joh~n W. and .Mary Jane (Jackson) Neel, natives of \'irginia, where 
thev spent their earlier years. From that state John \V. Xeel moved with his 
parents to Kentucky when a boy and there received his education. Louis 
lackson. the subject's maternal grandfather, came to this country from \'ir- 
ginia, bought land in Highland township and here followed farming the rest 
of his life, becoming well known throughout Vermillion county. The paternal 
grandfather. \\'illiam Neel, died in Kentucky, where he had spent the latter 
vears of his life. John W. Xeel. father of the subject removed from the old 
home in the Blue (irass state in 1836. coming to \'ermilIion county, Indiana, 



648 PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

and locating in Eugene township, where for some time he worked on the flat 
boats on the Wabash river and also at pork packing. When twenty-five years 
of age he began farming, which vocation he followed here with success the 
rest of his life. He married, first, Elizabeth Sanders, and to them the follow- 
ing children were born : Lucy, deceased : Xettie, deceased, and James, who is 
farming in Kansas. The wife and mother passed away in early life, and 
John ^\^ Xeel was then married to ]\Iary Jane Jackson, who bore him the 
following children : George IMilton, who is engaged in the well drilling busi- 
ness: Charles S. and Albert G., who have followed various lines of work in 
this locality: \\'illiam S. is a school teacher and farmer: Francis Marion died 
in infancy: E. E., subject of this sketch: Clara E. married Charles Peck, a 
farmer : Belle married William H. Alderson, a farmer. The death of the 
father, John W. Xeel, occurred in 1892. at the age of sixty-seven years. The 
mother, who was born in 1834. and who is a de\-out iNIethodist, is still living, 
being now se\-enty-eight years old. 

E. E. Xeel worked on a farm in his boyhood until he was sixteen years 
old, then attended high school at Perrysville. In 1887 he entered the Dan- 
ville X'ormal School, remaining two years, then spent one year in the State 
X'ormal School at Terre Haute, and one year at Valparaiso, Indiana, in the 
well known institution there. He then took up the study of law, entering the 
Universit}' i)f Indiana at Bloomington, and was graduated from the law- 
department, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, in 1900. He had made an 
excellent record for scholarship in all the abo\e named institutions. During 
the time that he was obtaining his education he taught school from time to 
time. Since June 27, 1900, he has been successfully engaged in the practice 
of his profession at X'ewport. enjoying a large and constantly growing 
clientele, and taking a prominenl i)art in the important cases in the local courts 
since that time. He is a profound student and keeps fully abreast of the times 
in all that pertains to his chosen \ocation. 

Mr. Neel was married on April 16, 1905, to Ola Sager. daughter of Isaac 
M. and Lelia (De^'oss) Sager, a highly respected family. Mrs. Xeel is well 
educated. 

\\'hile Mr. X'eel devotes all his attention to his extensive legal jiractice. 
he is nevertheless active in local affairs pertaining to the betterment of his 
town and county. He is a Republican in politics, is a member of the Meth- 
dist clnirch and a Sunday school teacher. Eraternally. he belongs to the 
Masonic order. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 649 

JAMES A. CHANEY. 

Anioiie' those who came to Parke counl\-. Indiana, wlien the (.-(juntrv 
was in its ])riniiti\e wildness, infested by animals, numerous and fero- 
cious, and when had scarcely disappeared triljes of scarcely less wild and 
more savage red men, when neighbors were few and far remote, and when 
roads were mere rails and no streams were bridged, was the venerable far- 
mer, James A. Chaney, one of the few remaining links which connects that 
remote period with the present. He has passed his eighty-third milestone, 
and most of his long years have been spent in this county, during wdiich time 
he has taken a part in the great transformation here, for he and his parents 
were among the earliest settlers, and the members of this family ha\c done 
their full share in the work of progress here. And they, together with the 
other actors in the great drama which witnessed the passing of the old and the 
introduction of the new conditions in which are now the fine farms and thriv- 
ing towns oi this county, are deserving of e\'ery consideration. \\'e of today 
cannot pay such sterling characters too great a meed of praise, in view of the 
sacrifices they made in order that their descendants and others of a later day 
should enjoy the blessings of life, only a few of which they were permitted to 
ha\e. Therefore, we are glad to gi\e the sul)icct of this sketch a conspicuous 
position in the present volume along with other deserving men who have 
played well their parts in the history of Parke and Vermillion counties. 

James A. Chaney was born September i, 1829, in Jefferson county, Ohio, 
near the town of Smithfield. He is a son of William Chaney and wife. The 
father was bom in Maryland, from which state he came to Ohio in early 
Indian times, finally coming on to Parke county. Indiana, where he took up 
land from the government, and here began life in typical pioneer fashion, 
succeeding by hard work in establishing a comfortable home here. Mis fam- 
ily consisted of five children, of whom James A., of this sketch, was the old- 
est. All these children are still living. 

James A. Chaney grew to manhood on the home farm and. being the 
son of a pioneer who had a farm to carve from the wilderness, he had plenty 
to do as soon as he was old enough. He had a meager schooling in the old- 
time schools, taught in log cabins, and when a young man he started in life 
by farming forty acres. He worked hard, was economical and managed well 
and success be\ond that of the average farmer has attended lii-; etturts and to- 
day he is one of the largest land owners and one of the most substantial far- 
mers in Parke countw his finely improved and valuable place consisting of 



650 PARKE AND VERMILI-ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

nearly six hundred acres of land, most of it located on the Clinton and Rose- 
dale road. His is thus one of the most valuable and desirable farms in the 
county. Here he has for many years carried on general farming and stock 
raising on an extensive scale, and he has an attractive home and numerous 
and convenient outbuildings. He has always handled an excellent grade of 
live stock, and no small part of his handsome competency has been derived 
from this source. He is a good judge of all kinds of stock, and especiallv is a 
lover of good horses. 

Mr. Chaney was married when t\\ent}-six years of age to Elizabeth 
Skearse, and to this union the following children were born ; James, who 
lives at Rosedale; William is assisting in operating the subject's farm; Fred 
was next in order; Amanda, Anna and Alice were the three daughters. 

Mr. Chaney was again married, in November, 1880, to Margaret B. 
Clark, and to this union two children were born : Omer is married and has 
three children ; Beulah, Virgil and Vivian. Homer, the second child, is mar- 
ried, but has no children. Mr. Chaney's second wife had two children by a 
former marriage, namely : Howard W. Clark, who is married and has four 
children, Oscar, Eva, Bertha and George ; Mary C. Clark is deceased. 

Mr. Chaney has been interested in all the affairs of his township and 
county. He was for some time supervisor of his township, but he has never 
been a seeker for public honors, preferring to devote his attention to hi.s ex- 
tensive business affairs. He and his family are active and prominent in 
church circles and liberal supporters of church work. 



LEONIDAS E. OVERPECK. , 

A most creditable representative of the Overpeck family and one of the 
best known of the present generation is Leonidas E. Overpeck, one of the 
leading farmers and stock raisers of Florida township, Parke county, and he 
is a man who has so ordered his life as to keep untarnished the bright escut- 
cheon of the family name and he has therefore always had the undivided 
respect of all who have know'n him. 

Mr. Overpeck was born December 10, 1859, in Florida township, this 
county, and he is a son of George and Harriet (Evans) Overpeck. The 
father, who devoted his life to farming, came from Trimble county, Ken- 
tucky, in an early day and located the permanent home of family in Parke 
countv, Indiana. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 65 1 

Leonidas E. Overpeck grew to iiianhood in his nati\e township and there 
in the rural schools he received his education. Pearly in life he took up farm- 
ing for a livelihood and this he has continued with ever-increasing success to 
the present time. During the time that he was attending the public schools 
he worked on the home farm, and at that period he also attended a commer- 
cial college in Terre Haute, .^fter his marriage he commenced farming for 
himself. He is now the owner of one of the choicest and most productive 
farms in his township, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, which 
he brought uj) to a high state of cultivation and improvement and on which 
he carries on general farming and stock raising, always handling a good grade 
of live stock. He has a pleasant home and numerous convenient outbuildings. 
He understands well the proper rotation of crops and the care of the soil, 
and while he has ne\er attended a college of agriculture he farms scientifi- 
cally, for he is a close observer and keeps well posted on agricultural and horti- 
cultural topics, besides making experiments of his own, and as a result his 
annual income is always satisfactory. 

Mr. Overpeck was married to Mary B. McGilvrey, a nati\e of Parke 
countv, where she grew to womanhood and recei\'ed her education. To this 
unijon have been born nine children, named in order of birth as follows : Gil- 
bert, Edith, Garnet. John. Mamie. Helen, Frances, Lowell and Ezra. 

Mr. Overpeck is a member of the Christian church, and politically, he is 
a Democrat, but has never been a seeker after office. 



■\ J. A. FISHER. 

TJie biographies) of the representatixc men of a county Ijring to light 
many hidden treasures of mind, character and courage, well calculated to 
arouse the pride of their family and of the community, and it is a source of 
regret that the people are not more familiar with the personal history of such 
men, in the ranks of whom may be found tillers of the soil, mechanics, mer- 
chants, professional men, business men and tho.se of varied vocations. J. .\. 
Fisher, well known citizen of the village of Coxville, Parke county, is one of 
the creditable representatives of the business element of this locality and as 
such has made his influence felt hei^, earning a name for enterprise, integrity 
and public spirit. 

Mr. Fisher was bom May i6. 1873, on the old h^isher farm in Adams 
township, this county, and is a son of Fletcher and Matilda ( Kcltncr) Fisher, 



652 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNT'eS. INDIANA. 

one of the prominent pioneer families of this county who are spending their 
Hves successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. 

T. A. Fisher grew to manhood on the home farm and there lie worked 
\\hen a boy during the crop season, attending the public schools in the 
winter time, remaining on the farm until he was sixteen years of age. when 
his father went into the merchandise' business, the son then working in the 
store, which the suliject took o\-er when the father returned to farming, and 
he has continued merchandising with ever-increasing success. To-day his 
general store in Coxville is a very busy place, liis many customers coming, 
some of them, from remote parts of the county, for here they always have a 
large and modern stock of goods to select from and receive uniform courtesy 
of treatment. He has been very successful in his chosen line of endeavor, 
and he not onlv owns his store, but some valuable property in Co.wille, includ- 
ing a pleasant residence, neatly kept and well furnished, which is presided 
over in a praiseworthy manner Ijy a lady whu was known in her maiflenhood 
as Abbie ]\I. Lowe, daughter of James and Rhoda (Ross) Lowe, and who 
was married to "Sir. Fisher on Octolier 30, 1895. 

To the subject and wife have been born five children, named in order of 
birth as follows: Hazel, Jake, Jr., Gladys, Frank and Solon. 

Fraternally, Mr. Fisher belongs to the Lnproved Order of Red Men, 
Tribe N'o. 187, at Rosedale. He and liis family are members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church. 

^Ir. Fisher is the leading citizen of Coxville, in that he has done more 
than anv other for the upbuilding and general good of the place. 



JAMES TYRE. 

A splendid young business man of the vicinity of Coxville, Indiana, is 
Tames Tyre, general farmer and engineer of the Acme Glass Sand Company. 
He has shown himself capable of handling responsible positions and creditably 
discharging the duties of the same, for he has always been a man of industry 
and a close obser\'er, never letting the grass grow under his feet and never 
failing to keep a watch-out for new methods and ideas, for he is by nature 
progressive. 

Mr. Tvre was born on June 22, 1878, in Washington county, Kentucky, 
and is a son of Thomas and Amene (Wood) Tyre. The father, who was 
born and reared in Kentuckv, was educated in the common schools, and earlv 



PARKE AND VERMH.UON COUNTIES, INDIANA. 653 

in life he tuok ui) farming for a vocation, which he continued to follow with 
success. 

Six children were born to Thomas Tyre and wife, namely: James, 
subject of this sketch, was the eldest; George; Athma; John, who lives in 
Parke county with his brother; Nettie is engaged in business, and Amina w'as 
the youngest. 

James Tyre grew to manhood on his father's farm in the Blue Grass 
state, and there he worked when a boy, attending the public schools during 
the winter months. He came to Indiana when young and finished his educa- 
tion here. At an early age he began working in the power house in Louis- 
\'ille, where he rendered satisfactory service. He then began learning the 
engineer's profession. He secured some good text books which he studied 
carefully, often until late into the night, until he learned about all he could 
in that manner, and, being by nature a man who observed things, he began 
picking up details, bit by bit, wherever he could, until he became equi]iped to 
hold positions as engineer, and he is now rated as one of the most thoroughly 
equipped and trustworthy men in his line in this section of the state, and is 
giving his employers satisfaction in every respect. 

Mr. Tyre was married in February. 1893, to Belle Daniels, daughter of 
Charles Daniels and wife, a highly respected family of this locality, where 
Mrs. Tyre was reared to womanhood and where she received her education. 
This union has resulted in the birth of four children, namely: Pearl. Rich- 
ard, Edward and Albert. ^Ir. Tvre li\es in the village of Cox^•ille. 



D. B. .McMLLLEX. 



No one, whether interested in farming or not, could look over the finely 
improved and well located farm of D. B. McMuUen, in the vicinity of Rose- 
dale, Parke county, and not be forced to admit that the panorama is pleasing 
for his is one of the "banner farms" of the locality of which this volume 
treats. There arc, perhaps, none among his friends and acquaintances who 
envy Mr. McMullen the success u'hich his honest efTorts and steady onward 
plodding ha\e brought him, for he has been a man of indomitable industry 
and has managed well, w inning success above the average husbandman. 

Mr. McMullen was born on March 22, 1857, on the farm on which he 
still lives, and he is a son of Dan and Elizabeth '(Houck) McMullen. The 
father was born on the Fort Harrison prairie, Vigo county, Indiana. He 



654 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

livetl in this section of tlie middle West during the days when Indians still 
roamed the country, during the log-rolling period of our history, when log 
cabins were the rule and not the exception, and he was well known and highly 
respected among the pioneers. His family consisted of four children, two liv- 
ing : D. B., of this sketch, and Mrs. Sarah Thorpe, the other two having 
passed away long ago. 

D. B. McMulIen was reared on the farm and there he worked when of 
proper age, attending school at the Forks of Creek school house. Upon 
reaching manhood Mr. McMullen was married to Lou G. Biggs, to which 
union one child was born, Eddie, who is living at home. The subject was 
married a second time, his last wife being Nettie Simmons, whose father de- 
voted his life to general farming, being one of the leaders as a farmer and 
stock man in his community and he always bore an excellent reputation. To 
this last union one child was born, Forrest. 

Mr. McMullen has kept the home place, which consists of three hundred 
and fifty acres, well improved and carefully cultivated so that it has not de- 
preciated in value or lost any of its original strength of soil. He has a pleas- 
ant home, and everything around it denotes good management and thrift. 
Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and relig- 
iously, he is a member of the Baptist church. 



HARRY MOORE. 



Just now in the prime of vigorous manhood, having accomplished much 
that merits the praise of his fellow men and having gained a firm standing in 
the affections of his people of Clinton and vicinity, the future to such a man 
as Harry Moore, mine boss of the Lyford mine, must necessarily be replete 
with honor and success. He is a man who has become well posted on current 
events and takes much interest in public affairs, always ready to assist in any 
way in the bettering of conditions for the working man. 

Mr. Moore was born on March 5, 1873, ^^'^^' Coshocton, Ohio, and he is 
a son of Richard and Anna (Snyder) Moore. The father was brought up 
in the mines which he followed all his life and was a mine boss at the time of 
his death. Four children were born to Richard Moore and wife, named in 
order of birth as follows : John, Mary, Malinda, and Harry, of this review. 

Harry Moore is a self-made man and is deserving of a great deal of 
credit for what he has accomplished. His early schooling was meager, for he 



PARKE AND VKRMII.T.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 655 

liad to go into tlie mines when but a boy, but he has educated himself in later 
years. He has followed the mines all his life, having worked in and around 
them for the past twenty-eight years, and, being a keen observer, industrious 
and conscientious, he has learned every phase of the mining business, and 
has given satisfaction in the various positions with which he has been en- 
trusted. As mine boss of the Lyford mine near Clinton, Indiana, he has 
shown himself to be a master at this kind of work, giving eminent satisfac- 
tion to his employers. 

Mr. Moore was married in 1907 to Nenia Knight, daughter of Harvev 
and Ella Knight, who live in the city of Clinton, where Mrs. Moore grew to 
womanhood and was educated. To this union three children have been born, 
namely : Ernest, Bernice and Max. * 

Fraternally, Mr. Moore belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows and the Knights of Pythias. The Moore family affiliate with the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church. Politically, Mr. Moore is independent. 



J. R. HEATON. 

From rugged Tennessee came J. R. Heaton, a successful Parke county 
farmer — successful because he has inherited many of the characteristics of 
the sterling people of that old state under Dixie skies, the traits that ne\-er 
fail to win when rightly applied, as his have evidently been, for he started out 
in life practically unaided and by hard work and persistent endeavor has won 
a comfortable home and a valuable farm. 

Mr. Heaton was born in Jefferson county, Tennessee, May 12, 185 1, and 
is a son of William C. and Eliza (Andress) Heaton. The father was a native 
of New Jersey, where he spent his early boyhood, but left there in earlv life, 
coming to Tennessee, where he spent a great many of his years. During the 
Civil war he was draftetl in the Confederate army, but deserted and went 
back to New Jersey, where he spent the rest of his life. His family consisted 
of six children, namely: Mary D., John, Harriet, Sarah, J. R. (the sub- 
ject), and William C, Jr. 

J. R. Heaton received his education in the public schools, and when a 
boy he accompanied an uncle to Missouri, where he finished his schooling. 
When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade in Parke county, In- 
diana, and has been a successful contractor since, becoming proficient in this 
trade, having built a large number of the best buildings in this locality which 



656 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

will long stand as monuments to his skill and honesty as a builder. However, 
he has always been more or less engaged in farming, having purchased land 
here many years ago, and is one of our leading general farmers and stock 
raisers, being the owner of a well improved and productive farm of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres in this county. He has one of the best homes in the 
township and numerous substantial outbuildings. 

]\Ir. Heaton was married on July 15, 1880, to Elizabeth Lewis, and to 
this union nine children have been born, namely : W. A. married Fay Weston 
and lives in Clinton ; S. A. married Winnie Sproat, and has one child. Ruby ; 
Frank A. is married to Mary Champion, and they have one child, Raphael; 
Harvey married Jennie Ralsted, and they have one child, Claud K. : Edward 
married Bertha Spray, and they have two children, Robert L. and Dorothy 
M.; John Lorenz is living at home; Elbert L. is single and Henry H. and 
Mary E. are attending school. 

Politically, Mr. Heaton is a Prohibitionist and so casts his vote, and 
assists in the furtherance of the work against the liquor traffic whenever oc- 
casion presents itself. The Heaton family affiliate with the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. 



JOHN H. MONTGOMERY. 

In studying the interesting life histories of many of the better class of 
men, and the ones of unquestioned merit and honor, it will be found that 
they have been compelled, very largel}^ to map out their own career and 
furnish their own motive force in scaling the heights of success, and it is of 
such a one that the biographer is pleased to write in the following para- 
graphs. 

John H. Montgomery, one of the leading farmers of Florida township, 
Parke county, was born in that township on March 10, 1863, on the old 
Montgomery homestead, and is a son of James H. and Rachael (Barnes) 
Montgomery. The father was born in Kentucky, from which state he came 
to Parke county, Indiana, with his father, Caleb Montgomery, who settled in 
the village of Catlin. James H. ^lontgomery was one of a family of five 
children, he having grown to manhood in Kentucky and was educated there, 
being twenty-one years old when he came to this county. He married soon 
after coming here and reared a family of seven children, namely: Mrs. 
Neoma Gates, Mrs. Margaret Pendegast, Mrs. Mary Hawkins, John H. of 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 657 

this sketch, iNIrs. Minnie Stone, Smith Monigomery and Airs. .Mason .\ckett. 
joim U. Aliintgomery of this sketch has always worked on a farm. When 
a bo_\- he assisted his father, and he received a common school education. 
When twenty \ears old lie was married and then started in life for himself, 
farming, and by hard work and good management forged to the front, ha\ing 
begun housekeeping when he was first married in an old log house. He is 
now the owner of two hundred and fifty-eight acres on the "S'ankee Street 
road, or the Mecca and Rosedale road, his place being known as the Raccoon 
A'alley farm, which is rated as one of the best in every respect in Florida town- 
ship. He has a good home and convenient outbuildings and keeps a splendid 
grade of live stock. 

Mr. Montgomery married Laura B. Johnson, now deceasetl, anil to this 
union three children were born, Ray, who married Evelyn Loustutter, is a 
minister in the Christian church; Jesse B. and Louise. 

Mr. ]\Tontgomery was married a second time, his last wife being Luella 
Lewis, daughter of Charles Lewis, a shoemaker in Terre Haute, Indiana. To 
this last union seven children were born, namely: Harry, who teaches at the 
Dailv school in Parke county: Joseph, Rachael, Florence. Henry. Russell and 
Ralph. Joseph and Rachael are in high school. Mr. Montgomery I^elongs 
to the Baptist church and, politically, he is a Democrat. 



HERMAN H. JACOBS. 

Although a young man. Herman II. Jacobs, manager of the Baugh farm 
in Parke county, has achieved a definite degree of success and seems to be the 
possessor of attributes that cannot well fail in the usual lines of h.uman en- 
deavor, especially as related to husbandry. He is not only energetic and 
painstaking, but is a man who has proven himself to be a keen observer and 
who tal-es no chances, recklessness being foreign to his nature, it being his 
aim alw avs to know he is right and then go ahead, according to the old adage, 
and this has been one of the contributing causes of his success in his chosen 
life work. 

Mr. Jacobs was born November 25. 1882, in Rosedale. Parke county. 

Indiana, and he has been content to spend his life in his native locality. He is 

a son of William and Susan (Myers) Jacobs. The father was for many 

years a well known merchant in Rosedale, and w-as very successful, having 

(42) 



658 PARKE AXD XERMILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

built up a large trade with the town and surrounding" country, and, deahng 
courteously and honestly with all with whom he came into contact, he had 
the confidence of every one who knew him. After his death the mother of the 
subject ran the store for a w hile, then sold out. She came from Middletown, 
Indiana, and is a daughter of Reuben and Elizalieth Myers, a highl\- respected 
family of that locality. 

Four children were born to William Jacobs and wife, named in order of 
birth as follows : Clint, who lives in Rosedale ; Charles is residing in Clinton, 
\'ermillion county: Pearlie lives in Indianapolis, and Herman H.. of this re- 
view. 

Herman H. Jacobs grew to manhood in his nati\e comnuniit}- and he 
received a good practical education in the common schools of Rosedale. After 
leaving school he began life in the mines, which he followed for some time, 
then took up farming, which he has continued successfully to the present time. 

Mr. Jacobs was married on July 3, 1912, to Ethel Baugh, daughter of 
one of the leading farmers of Parke coqnty, and here she grew to woman- 
hood and was educated in the common schools. Fraternally, Mr. Jacobs is a 
member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Pvthias. 



OMER CHANEY. 



The subject of this sketch is one of those men who has met with success 
along the line of his chosen calling and he is today one of the leading agricul- 
turists and stock raisers of his township. .\ man of fine personal traits, he is 
highly regarded by all who know him. and he is counted one of the most pro- 
gressive and worthy men of afTairs and ])ublic-spirited citizens of the locality 
of which this volume treats. 

Omer Chaney, owner of about two hundred acres of productive and fine- 
]\- impro\-ed land on the Chanev road about five miles from Clinton, Indiana, 
was born August 16, 1881. on the old Chaney homestead, and he is a son of 
James and Margaret (Adams) Chaney, one of the best known families in the 
countv, a complete sketch of whom apjjears on another page of this work. 

Omer Chanev grew to manhood in his native localit\- and was edu- 
cated in the common schools, working on the farm during the summer 
months of his school period. When twenty-one years of age he commenced 
renting land of his father and he soon had a start in that way, and his success 
as a general farmer has been continuous and he today, though yet but a young 



PARKIC ANM) X'KRMII.I.IOX COrNTIKS, IXDIANA. 659 

man. is regarded as uue n\ our l)cst general farmers, lie keeps his land well 
tilled, properly rotates his crojis and keeps a good grade of live stock. 

When twenty-one years old Mr. Chaney was united in marriage to 
Dolly Lowe, daughter of Jim and Rhoda (Ross) Lowe, a highly respected 
famil\- of this localit}-, where they ha\e long maintained their home and 
wliere Mrs, Chane}' grew to womanhood and where she received her educa- 
tion. Three children ha\e been born to Air. Chane\- and wife, named in order 
of birth as follows: Beulah, \'irgil and \'ivian. Air, Chaney affiliates with 
the Methodist Episcopal church. 



JAA'IES Al. SXOW 



The list of names of the enteriirisiiig and public-spirited citizens of Parke 
county who have lieen successful in their chosen vocations would be lacking 
should the nanie of James Al. Snow be omitted. He has made an exhaustive 
study of general agriculture and is w^ell qualified in every respect for his 
present line of work, for he believes in progress and keeps well informed on 
the current problems of the clay, especially as they pertain to his line of work. 

Air. Snow was born December 30. 1S57. in Parke county, and is a son 
of Benjamin and Elvira ( Bagwell ) Snow, the father having been a native of 
Parke county, the son of one of the sterling ]Moneer families and here be grew 
to manhood when the country mundaboiit was little developed and settlers 
were few and here he became well known as an extensive farmer. He was 
always interested in all public work and assisted in the same. He is now 
deceased, but his widow is still living in this ci.unty, she being now advanced 
in vears, and she, too, is a representatix e of a tine nld family. 

Tames Al. Snow grew to manhood 011 the home farm and there he made 
him.self generally useful when a boy, learning agriculture from an able pre- 
ceptor, his father, who he continued to assist during the crop seasons. In the 
winter months he attended llic common schools until he received a very i)rac- 
tical education, which has of later years l)een sui)plemented by home reading 
and practical experience. Air. Snow has never careil to be the owner of a 
farm, though he likes to operate and control farming land, and he is now 
farming with a great degree of success five hundred acres in Parke county, 
which he has placed under a fine state of cultivation, and he is also superin- 
tendent of the Cilass Acme Sand Company, which does a very extensive busi- 
ness throughout this part of the state. 



66o PARKE AND \"ERMILLION COLXTIES, INDIANA. 

Mr. Snow was married in October, 1886, to INIary E. Br)ant and to this 
union six children have been born, namely : Robert, who married Melissa 
Chaney; Herschel was next in order; Edith is the wife of Rufus Daniels; 
Roy, Cecil and Hazel are in school. 

Fraternally, Mr. Snow belongs to the Knights of Pythias, being trustee 
of the local lodge: he also holds membership with the Alodern Woodmen, 
being manager of the local camp, and he has been active and prominent in 
both for some time. Politically, he is a Republican and wields considerable 
influence locally, being more or less active in the ranks. 



VOORHEES HUXFORD. 

The prosperity and substantial welfare of a town or community are in a 
large measure due to the enterprise and wise foresight of its business men. 
It is progressive, wide-awake men of alifairs that make the real history of a 
community, and their intiuence in shaping and directing its varied interests 
is difficult to estimate. \'oorhees Huxford, for a number of years one of the 
alert and industrious men of affairs of Parke county, is one of the enterpris- 
ing spirits to whom is due the recent substantial improvements of his section 
of the county, whose interests he has ever had at heart. With a mind capable 
of planning, he combines a will strong enough to execute his well- formulated 
purposes, and his great energy, keen discrimination and perseverance have 
resulted in material success as a farmer, general contractor and builder of 
gravel roads. 

Mr. Huxford was born on August 27. 1862, on the old Huxford home- 
stead in Parke county, Indiana, and is a son of John and Matilda (Driver) 
Huxford, one of our sterling early families who became well known in Parke 
county. 

\'^orhees Huxford grew to manhood in his native township and there 
received his education in the common schools. When twenty-one years of 
age his father started him out as a farmer, and the lad forged gradually 
ahead until he became one of the leading farmers of his community. When 
crops were poor he took up carpentering, also learned the cement business, at 
which he worked from time to time, and while he has made general farming 
his main life work he has been very successful in a financial way as a con- 
tractor and builder of houses and gra\el roads, his w ork always giving emi- 
nent satisfaction, for it has ever been not onlv well but honestlv done, so 



PARKE .VXD VKRMII.MON COUNTIES. INDIANA. 66r 

llial lie enjoys the confidence of the people, and his services are in constant 
demand. His fine farm consists of one hundred acres, which he has put 
under excellent improvements and a high state of cultivation. lie is also tiie 
owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixtv acres in Te.xas, a valuable lot 
in .\shdo\vn, Arkansas, and other [jroperiy, all of which he has made by his 
own indomitable eiiforts. He has made frequent trips, traveling extensively 
in Nebraska. Texas, Arkansas and other states, and, being by nature a keen 
observer, he has been greatly benefited by what he has seen; but his princi])al 
interests ha\'e remained in Parke countw he ha\ ing made but one move in his 
life, and that was in 1882. when he moved from a log cabin into his jorcsent 
attractive and commodious dwelling which he built himself and which is one 
of the coziest homes in the townshij). modern in every detail. 

Mr. Huxford was married in 1882 to Elizabeth Florence Ne\ins. 
daughter of Harry and Hannah (Burnett) Nevins. a highly respected fam- 
ily and influential in their community. To the subject and wife nine children 
have been born, of whom those living are: Rose E.. Charles W., Herman V., 
John Wilmer and Ellis : four children are dead. 

Politically. Mr. Huxford is a Democrat, and he and his family attenrl the 
Christian church. 



GEORGE HENRY .SAIAfOX. 

Success is onl\- achieved bv the exercise of certain distinguishing quali- 
ties and it cannot be retained without effort. Those by whom great epoch 
changes have been made in the political and industrial w orld began early in 
life to prepare themselves for their peculiar duties and responsibilities, and it 
was only by the most persevering and continuous endeavor that they suc- 
ceeded in rising superior to the obstacles in their way and reaching the goal 
of their ambition. Such lives are an inspiration to others who are less cour- 
ageous. Judging from the record George Salmon, well known farmer of 
Parke county, Indiana, is m.aking, he has carefully laid the foundation for 
large future success, some of which he has already achieved. He is one of our 
worthiest native sons, who has been content to spend his life in his own com- 
munity, the interests of which and the county he has ever had at heart and 
sought to promote. He is the scion of one of our sterling pioneer families, 
the good name of which he has ever upheld. 

Mr. Salmon was born on the home farm, which he still occupies, located 



G62 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES^ INDIANA. 

less than a mile from Rosedale, Indiana, March 8, 1869. He is a son of 
Joseph and Eleanor (Doty) Salmon, a complete sketch of whom appears on 
another page of this work, hence need not be reproduced here. 

George H. Salmon grew upon the farm and there has always worked 
from the time he was old enough. During the winter months he was to be 
found in the neighboring schools, where he received a good practical education. 
He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, having 
worked hard and managed well, and he is the owner of one of the best farms 
in this part of the county, consisting of three hundred acres, which has always 
been known as the Salmon farm. The subject has kept the place well tilled 
and improved in an up-to-date manner, so that it ranks with the best in the 
count}', and lias retained its original fertilit}-. Here he carries on general 
farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. 

Mr. Salmon was married on October 2, 1891. to Henrietta Boatman, 
daughter of one of the highly respected families of this locality. To this 
union three children have been born, named in order of birth as follows: 
Flossie, who received an excellent education and who has made one of the 
successful school teachers of the county, is living at home; Claude is assisting 
his father with the work on the home farm ; Leah, the youngest child, is at 
home and is attending school. 

Fraternally. Mr. Salmon is a member of the Modern \\'oodmen, and in 
religious matters he belongs to the Church of Christ. Politically, he is a Re- 
jjublican, and while he has never made an effort to be a leader in public aft'airs. 
vet his support could always be depended upon in movements having for their 
object the general good of his township and county. 



CHARLES BENNETT. 

One of the most enterprising and successful young farmers of the \-icinit_\' 
of Rosedale. Indiana, is Charles Bennett, a man who has made a careful 
study of the methods of general husbandry, the oldest of the world's arts, 
for all will agree, who are in any way conversant with agriculture, that it is 
an art. and one. too. that is not by any means mastered by all. It re(|uires 
a man of close observing powers, a highly de\eloped percepti\e faculty, thrift, 
persistency and fortitude, and the idler and the dreamer never need try their 
hand at it, for on such the contents of the fabled horn of Cornucopia will 
never be poured. 



I'ARKK AND N^ERM II.l.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 663 

Air. Bennett, who is the owner of a valuable and highly productive farm 
of fifty-six acres, which he is managing with ever-increasing success, was 
born on May 13, 1873, '" Mecca, Indiana. He is a son of Reuben and Mar- 
tha (Biller) Bennett. The father was l)orn in Indiana and has devoted his 
Hfe to farming. His father was one of tiie early settlers of this state and the 
family has been well known in the sections of Hoosierdom in which they 
have resided from that early day to this. To Reuben Bennett and wife were 
l)orn a large family, but only three of them are living at this writing, namely : 
Isabelle, who married a Mr. Wright; Charles, of this re\'iew ; and Emmett. 

Charles Bennett grew to manhood on his father's farm and there assisted 
with the general work of the same, and he receix'cd his education in the 
common schools, but he is very largely self-educated, having ever been a w ide 
reader and a home student. 

Mr. Bennett was married in 1894 to Maggie Hutchison, the daughter 
of a highly respected family, and to this union five children have been born, 
namely: Minnie, who married Blaine Wheat; Fred, Wallace. Cynthia and 
Claude. 

Mr. Bennett and his family attend the Methodist F,piscopal church, and 
politically he is a Democrat, but he has never been nnich of a public man and 
never cared for the emoluments of ofifice, preferring to devote his attention 
exclusixelv to his home and farming. 



TAMES A. TAYLOR. 



One of the farmers of I'arke cnunty who has l)clic\cd ivom the nutlet 
of his career that "The wisdom of yesterday is sometimes the folly of today," 
and that while the methods of our grandfathers in tilling the soil were all 
right in their dav and generation, yet in the twentieth century we are com- 
l)elled to adopt new methods and farm along somewhat different lines, in 
view of the fact that conditions of climate, soils, grains, farming implements, 
supply and demand, etc., have changed since the epoch of the pioneers, is 
James A. Taylor. He has been a close observer of modern methods and is a 
student at all times of whatever pertains to his chosen life work and he has 
therefore met with encouraging success, and, judging from his past record, 
he will undoubtediv achie\e much in the future years and take his place among 
the leading farmers of a community noted for its fine farms and admit hus- 
bandmen. 



664 PARKE AND VERMIIJ.IOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

Mr. Taylor was born on July 10, 1863, near the town of Lyford, Parke 
county, and he is a son of Silas and Lucinda (Davis) Taylor, the father hav- 
ing been one of the large farmers and land owners of this county in its his- 
tory. He is now living in Sullivan county, this state, at an advanced age. His 
family consisted of five children, namely: Henry H. was the eldest; Abra- 
ham is deceased; James A., of this sketch; Edward was next in order, and 
Sarah I. is deceased. 

James A. Taylor was reared on the home farm in his native county and 
A\hile he attended the public schools some, he is principally self-educated. 
During his boyhood days he assisted his father in the regular farm work, 
and he was enabled to sa\e a little money, so upon reaching manhood got 
married, spending his savings for household effects, buying teams of his father. 
The date of his wedding was ^larch 22. 1888. and his bride was Amanda 
Salmon, daughter of Joseph and ]<',leanor 1 Doty) Salmon, a sketch of which 
familv appears elsewhere in this \oIume. The following children were born 
to the subject and wife, namely : Herbert S., who married Joy D. Gaskin ; 
Lucinda Mabel married Henry Kelch. and they have one child. Alary ; tlar- 
old E.. Ellis L.. Eleanor D.. James Stanley. Loren S., Mary A.; Francis 
Wayne, deceased: Helen M., deceased. 

Mr. Taylor is very successfully engaged in general farming one 
hundred and fiftv acres, the Salmon farm, located on the Salmon road, about 
a mile west of Rosedale. He belongs to the Church of Christ, and he is a 
member of the Modern Woodmen. He is a Republican and was elected town- 
ship assessor by a good majority, being now incumbent of that office. 



FRED GRIFFIN. 



A man who is deserving of the success which he now enjoys is Fred 
Griffin, for he started out in life without assistance and without means and, 
by patient continuance, has won, having worked hard from boyhood. Man- 
aging well, he has become the owner of an excellent farm and a comfortable 
home, and he has led a life of such uprightness that he has ever enjoyed the 
good will and confidence of his neighbors and friends, thus upholding the 
dignity of the family name, for the Griffins have been known in Parke county 
since the early days and they have never been accused of unworthy acts. 

Mr. GrifTfin was bom in Parke county, Indiana, on September 13, t866. 
and he is a son of Hiram and Lucv T Evans) Griffin, who devoted their lives 



I'ARKK AXD VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 665 

to farming in this county. They became the parent.s of nine children, those 
living named in order of birth as follows: George, Gertrude, Mart, Fred, 
Anna and Gilbert, the subject of this sketch having been the fourth child: 
three are dead. 

Fred GrifTin was reared on the home farm in his native count\-, and 
there he made himself generally useful during the crop seasons when he be- 
came of proper age, and in the winter time he attended the neighboring 
schools, applying himself in such a manner as to gain a very practical educa- 
tion. Early in life he took up farming for a livelihood and this he has fol- 
lowed ever since, and is now the owner of a very choice little farm of eightv- 
one and one-half acres, which he has placed under excellent improvements 
and cultivation. W'lii-n nineteen years of age he began working out bv the 
month on the farm, and. saxing his earnings, it was in this w av that he was 
at last enabled to purchase his present farm. 

Mr. Griffin was married on December 31, 1902. to Fthel Remington, a 
daughter of a very highly respected family of this locality, where she grew to 
womanhood and where she received her education in the public schools. To 
this union one child has been born, Margaret, who is attending school at this 
writing. Mr. Griffin's family belong to the Christian church. 



JOHN R. NEWTON. 

John R. Newton is now practicall\' living retired after a long life of 
earnest endeavor. Through his many years of connection with agricultural 
interests he not only carefully conducted his farm, but so managed its affairs 
that he has acquired thereby a ])osition among the substantial residents of the 
community. Moreover, he is entitled to representation in this volume because 
he is one of the native sons of Parke count) . and his mind bears the impress 
of its early historical annals, and from the pioneer period dou n to the present 
he has been an interested witness to its development. 

Mr. Newton was born .August 15. 1865. on the old Newton home place, 
which is a part of the subject's farm. lie is a .son of Benjamin and Malinda 
(Tewis) Newton. The father was born near Cross Keys, West Virginia, 
and he was but a boy when he left that country with his parents, they l)eing 
among the early settlers in Parke county, Indiana. Tie was a man of fine 
business qualifications. He started in with forty acres and at his death was 
the owner of seventeen hundred acres of excellent land, still retaining the orig- 



666 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

inal forty acres he first purchased. To Benjamin Newton and wife were 
born eight children, six sons and two daughters, namely; George; John R., 
of this review; Isaac, Edward, Charles; Robert is deceased; Emma, who mar- 
ried a -Mr. Ogden, and Mrs. Margaret McCool. 

John R. Newton grew to manhood on the home farm and there he made 
himself generally useful during the crop seasons, receiving his education in 
the common schools. When twenty-one years of age he rented of his father, 
of whom he later bought land, and, ha\ing w orked hard and managed well, he 
is now the owner of one of the choicest farms in Florida township, consisting 
of four hundred acres, all in a square and well located in one of the richest 
sections in the county. He has a substantial and commodious brick home in 
the midst of pleasant surroundings, on the west side of the Nessler gravel 
road, about four and one-half miles east of the city of Clinton. He has al- 
ways kept a good grade of live stock and no small portion of his annual in- 
come has been derived from that source. 

Mr. Newton was married in January, 1885, to Rachael Bound, daughter 
of Oliver and Rachael (Burson) Bound, the father having come to this coun- 
try from Ohio and devoted his life successfully to agricultural pursuits. Four 
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Newton, namely : Harley B. is 
married and has three children ; Stanley is at home and looks after the farm : 
Maxwell also assists in the management of the home farm, he and his elder 
brother renting of their father ; Frances is at home. 

The Newton familv attend the Methodist Episcopal church and are 
liberal supporters of the same, being very prominent in church aflfairs. 



ALBERT NURNBERGER. 

The tra\eler with anv experience whatever and who has been trained to 
ojjserve carefully would know readily upon coming into the community where 
Albert Nurnberger resides that it was a German settlement, or at least a 
number of people live there with German blood in their veins. The farms are 
well kept, well tilled and well improved and the houses are clean and cozy 
looking. There is an atmosphere of thrift and cheerfulness about them which 
is not always noticeable in a farming community of other nationalities. 

Mr. Nurnberger, who is the owner of an excellent and verA- productive 
farm of sixty acres on the Martin Kessler road, about five miles from Clin- 
ton, Vermillion county, Indiana, was born on June 28, 1866, on the old 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 667 

Nurnberger homestead, and he is a son of John and Marj- (Dean) Xurnber- 
gei". The father was born in Germany and there he spent his earHer years, 
emigrating- from that country to the United States when eighteen years of 
age, after he had jjeen educated in liie schools of tlie fatlierland. He at once 
penetrated to the middle West, locating in Parke county, Indiana, having 
come here with his parents, Adam and Eve Nurnberger, an excellent old Ger- 
man couple, who were the first settlers in this country of this name, and by 
persistency and hanl work thc\- became ver\' comfortably established in the 
New World, and the family name froni that day to this has been one w hich 
has stood for thrift and honesty, good government and clean living. 

Albert Nurnberger grew to manhood on the old home place and there 
he made himself generally useful in tlie crop seasons when he became of 
proper age, and he received a good practical education in the public schools. 
He apijlied himself closely and was regarded as an excellent pupil. Early in 
life he began working on the farm in order to save enough money to purchase 
land o_f his own. which he did in due course of time and on this he is making 
a good living and laying by for his declining years. 

Mr. Nurnberger was married on December 13. 1894, to Gertrufle D. 
Ches.ser, of Rockville, daughter of Daniel and Jennie Chesser, of that place. 
To this union three children have been born, namely : Kathleen. Bernus and 
Helen Jeannette. The subject is a Methodist in religion. 



FRED WALKER. 



One of the u]3-to-date farmers and stock men of the section of Indiana 
of which this volume treats is Fred Walker, a man who has made fanning 
pay because he has not only worked persistently 'and well, but because he has 
studied every phase of the same, always alert for new ideas and improved 
methods, where he deems them better than the old. ami as a result the two 
hundred acres of finely improved and productive land which he operates, but 
which is in his mother's name, is made to yield abundant crops and a com- 
fortable income from year to year. 

Mr. Walker was born on March 17. 1879. and he is a son of Joseph N. 
and Margaret (Lewis) Walker. The father was born on the old Walker 
homestead in Florida township and he there grew to manhood and spent his 
life there, successfully engaged in general farming, and there his death oc- 
curred on June 4. 191 2. Joseph Walker, grandfather of the subject, came 



668 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

from Ohio and was tlie first of the name to come to the Wabash country and 
settle here, and from that early day to this the Walkers have been well known 
in this section. To Joseph X. W'alker and wife five children were born, 
namely: Laura J., Arietta, David M., Dayton, and Fred of this sketch. 

Fred W'alker grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted his 
father with the general work when he was a boy, and in the winter time he 
attended the common schools and was graduated from the Clinton high school. 
Later he took the course at the Lidiana State University, from which institu- 
tion he was graduated in the }ear 1904. He made an excellent record at the 
university and was popular with the student body. 

Mr. Walker was married on December 27, 191 1, to Pansy Bryant, a 
daughter of P>ank and Mary Bryant. This union has been blessed bv the 
birth of one child. 

Fraternally. Mr. Brxant belongs to the Masonic order at Terre Haute, 
to which city they both go for their society and amusement. Mrs. \\'^alker 
belongs to the Christian church. Thev are young people of pleasing per- 
sonalities, educated. ])rogressive, cultured and genial, and they have made a 
host of friends since taking up their permanent abode in this locality. 



CHARLES BRANNON. 

As an all-round farmer and stock man, Charles Brannon, of the vicinity 
of Rosedale, Parke county, is deserving to rank with the most enterprising in 
his locality, for he believes in doing everything well and as scientifically as 
possible, thus conserving the strength of the soil and rendering it more pro- 
ductive than under the time-honored methods of husbandrv known to our 
grandfathers, whose methods were all right in their day when the land was 
new, the soil deep and everything different : but the farmer who succeeds to- 
day must do differently, for the most part. 

Mr. Brannon was born in Douglas county, Illinois, in 1874 and there 
he grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools, 
working on the farm during all. of his school period. In 1900 he came to 
Parke county. Indiana, and here he has since resided. He is at present man- 
aging a fine farm for his father, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres 
on the Rosedale gravel road. He is a son of Christopher and Elizabeth 
(Peters) Brannon. The father came from \'irginia when he was sixteen 
years old. he and his mother locating in the \icinity of Oakland, Illinois. His 
father had died in Missouri. Before coming to Indiana, Christopher Bran- 



PAUKE AXIJ VERMILLION COINTIES, l.\l)L\XA. 669 

non purchased the Clind farm, w liicli lie contimieil to mana.^e with much 
success until about two years ago, when he rented it, turning it over tn his 
son, Charles of this sketch, who is now working it on the halves, and is man- 
aging it in a manner that reflects much credit upon his ability, lie keeps his 
fields clean and well cultivated, never doing anything slovenly, antl his fences 
are all up in good shajje and the outbuildings kept well reijaired. He is a 
good judge of live stock and some good breeds are on the place, which re- 
ceives his special care. 

Mr. Brannon was married on December 21,, 1S98. to Agnes Hollis, 
daughter of Clark and Sarah (McCord) Hollis. To this union two children 
have been born, Archie and Minnie, hraternally. Mr. Brannon is a member 
of the ]\Iasonic order. 



ERNEST CHANEY. 

The traveling public in this section of Indiana have long since become 
acquainted with Ernest Chane}-, the well equipped, obliging and genial livery- 
man of the town of Rosedale, Parke county. He is a man who has worked 
hard for what he has and in his dealings with his fellow men he has ever 
been known to be on the square. This has given him an excellent reputation 
and he enjoys a nice business in his line, which is constantly growing. He is 
of a fine old pioneer family. 

Mr. Chaney was born on a farm in Parke county, Indiana, March 8, 
1889, and he is a son of James and Emma (Lewis) Chaney, the father hav- 
ing been born on the old Chane\- home place, which was settled by the sub- 
ject's forbears when this country was practically a wilderness, and from that 
time to this the Chaney family has Ijeen well known in this locality. James 
Chaney grew up on the old homestead and he receixed his education in the 
common schools. He has devoted his life to farming and is now the owner 
of an excellent and well improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres, 
bordering on the town of Rosedale. To Jaines Chaney and wife nine chil- 
dren have been born, namely: Ernest. Clarence. Curtis, Raymond. Herman. 
Albert, Letha, James and Stella, the latter being deceased. 

Ernest Chaney, eldest of the family, grew to manhooil t)n the home 
farm and there helped with the work during the vacation periods of his boy- 
hood davs. and in the winter-time he attended the i)ul)lic schools. He began 
farm work when eleven years old, and made general farming his vocation 
up to 191 1, when he started in the livery business, having worked around at 
dififerent things, made several successful horse trades and finally accu- 



670 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

mulated about fi\e hundred dollars. He is making a success as a li^•eryman, 
understanding well the handling of horses, and he has an excellent equip- 
ment for his chosen calling. 

Mr. Chaney was married on June 2^. 1910. to Sadie Cook. He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and politically he is a Republican. 



JOHN E. HARSHBARGER. 

.\ name too well known to the ])eople of Rosedale and this section of 
Parke county to need any formal presentation by the writer of this brief life 
record is tliat of John E. Har.shbarger, a successful insurance and real estate 
dealer, who has forged to the front in his line of endeavor through persist- 
ency and honorable dealings with his fellow men, thus enjoying their confi- 
dence and good will. He is also known to be a man who takes a keen 
interest in the affairs of his community and is not averse to lending such aid 
as he may in furthering all mo\"ements ha\ing as their object the general 
good of the same. 

Mr. Harshbarger was born in b'lorida township, Parke county. Indiana, 
April 9. 1858, and he is a son of Henr}- and Mary (Doty) Harshbarger. 
The father was a native of Ohio, where he spent his earlier days and from 
which state he came to Indiana, when a baby, with his parents. Christian and 
Sallie (Dean) Harshbarger. who were natives of Pennsylvania and of Dutch 
stock. Henry Harshbarger was the head of the family in Indiana, and 
the father of five children, namely: Ella is deceased; John E. is living; 
Emily is deceased; Jerry and Henry were the two youngest and are Imth 
deceased, d\ing in childhood. Grandfather John M. Doty, Sr., came to 
Parke county in 1814, and entered government land in 1816. and soon after 
married Sarah McLain. 

John E. Harshbarger was born on his father's farm, and he grew to 
manhood on the farm after coming to Indiana, and there assisted his father 
with the general work. He received his education in the rural schools of 
his neighborhood, later finishing his course at Ladoga College. He is an ex- 
cellent type of a self-made man. He first started in life for himself by 
clerking in a store. Then he was in the employ of the Parke County Coal 
Company, and later went into business for himself in the general mercantile 
business, but eventually sold, out to Couley & Son, general merchants, who 
are still conducting the business at Rosedale. Mr. Harshbarger had by this 
time a good start, having managed well and built up a good trade with the 



PARKE AND N'KRMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 67I 

surrounding country. He then went into ]jolitics and was clerk of the court 
for a period of four years, giving tlie utmost satisfaction in that cajjacity to 
all concerned, especially to his Repul)lican constituents. 

Mr. Harshharger was married in 1883 to Mary E. Nicholson, who is 
now deceased. To this union two children were horn : Gertrude and Gilbert, 
the latter deceased. Mr. Harshharger was married a second time in 1900 
to Nellie Myers. This second union has resulted in the birth of two children, 
Jennie and Katharyn, both attending school at this writing. 

Mr. Harshharger is a member of the Christian church and his wife be- 
longs to the Presbyterian church. He was bookkeeper and later cashier of the 
Rosedale National Bank, and filled these responsible positions in a manner 
eminently satisfactor}- to the stockholders and patrons of the bank. 



CHARLES B. THOMAS. 

A desire to do honest work, render high-grade service and promptness 
have made C. B. Thomas, of Rosedale. successful in liis life work, and he 
has become one of the leading undertakers of Parke county because of these 
and other necessarv qualities w hich he was quick to see and determine upon 
when he started out to fight the battle of life for himself. 

Mr. Thomas was born Xovember 3, 1878. in Putnam ccmnty. Indiana, 
the son of William and Elizabeth (Ewing) Thomas. William Thomas was 
also a native of that count}-, and he devoted his life to general farming and 
threshing. His family consisted of the following children : Alice is de- 
ceased; Dora is next in order: Eliza is deceased: Henry and Oscar: Frank 
is deceased: Elmer, who lives in Oklahnnia, is state senator at this writing; 
C. B.. of this sketch: ( )na is deceased, as is also Bertha: Fred and Cleve were 
the two youngest. 

C. B. Thomas spent his boyhood in Putnam county and started, at an 
earlv age. to the public school in llninner.slow n, and in 1904 he went to 
the Barnes school at Indianapolis, where he learned enbalming, graduat- 
ing from that institution with a splendid record. He had worked on his fath- 
er's farm up to the time he went to .school. I'oUowing his graduation he went 
to Brazil, where he worked for a time at undertaking, then came to Green- 
castle. He then went into business in the country, later coming to Rosedale. 
Parke countv, where he has since remained and has built up a very extensive 
patronage as an undertaker, ranking with the best in this and adjoining 
connties. He is ablv assisted in his business bv his wife. 



6/2 PARKE AXD \ERM1LLI0X COUNTIES, IXDIANA. 

Mr. Thomas was married eleven years ago to Lettie Alae Vinzant, 
daughter uf William and Wealthy (Cox) Vinzant. To this union two chil- 
dren have been born, Clema Nellie and Cleo Gladys. 

Mr. Thomas and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
They have made a host of friends since coming to this locality, for they are 
pleasant people to know, neighborly, sociable and hospitable. Mr. Thomas 
has remained a deep student of all that pertains to undertaking and embalm- 
ing, keeping up with the latest and most appro\"ed methods and he has met 
with pronounced success. 



SAMUEL COBLE. 



There can be no greater honor than to serve one's country honestly and 
conscientiously in any capacity, but when the nation's integrity is at stake 
and it becomes necessary for the citizen soldiery to leave the common pur- 
suits of life and go into the conflict, risking limb and life, it is a much greater 
sacrifice and the honor attached thereto is higher than almost any other 
known to man. Of this worthy class belongs Samuel Coble, for a long lapse 
of years one of the successful men of affairs of Parke county and a citizen 
who has served with rare ability and credit the people of this locality in 
various public capacities, but who is now living in honorable retirement in his 
pleasant home in the town of Rockville, which he has helped to develop and 
make a good place to live in. He is held in high esteem, also because of the 
fact that he is a veteran of the great war between the states, a public spirited 
citizen and has long led an active and useful life in this county, bearing all 
the while a reproachless character. 

Mr. Coble was born in Carroll county. Ohio, July 15. 1838. He is the 
son of George and Mary A. (McKakhan) Coble, the father being a native 
of Pennsylvania and the mother of "Virginia, from which state she came to 
Ohio when a girl and to that state also came the elder Coble, when a young 
man, and they were married there. There they remained until 1850. when 
they came to Indiana and located in Raccoon township, Parke county, later 
moving to Florida township, this county, where he remained until his death 
in 1875. having devoted his life to general farming, in which he was success- 
ful and was highly respected wherever he was known. His wife preceded him 
to the grave in 1871. Thev became the parents of eight children. se\en of 
whom are living, namely: .Samuel, of this re\-iew : Susanna, deceased: F.liza- 
hetli ; ATarv: Aneeline is deceased; Amanda. George and ATargaret. 




SAMUEL COBLE. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 673 

Samuel Luble was reared on his lather's farm iu CarroU county, Uhio, 
and he received his early education ni the public schools, lie accompanied 
his parents to Indiana in 1850 and continued to assist his lather in the work 
on the farm until he • was iw enty-one years of age, then u orked by tlie • 
month on a farm for two and one-half years. 

iVlr. Coble was thus engaged when ihe war of the Rebellion broke out, 
and he enlisted on August 14, 18O2, in Company G, Eighty-hfth Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, and served in a most faithful and gallant manner until 
the close of the struggle, seeing much hard service and participating m many 
important campaigns and great battles, lie was captured at Spring Hill, 
Tennessee, March 5, 1863, with fifteen hundred others and was taken to 
Libby prison. Col. John C. Coburn, of Indianapolis, was his commander. He 
remained in prison twenty-six days, when he was paroled, lie went from 
there to Annapolis, Maryland, thence to Camp Chase, at Columbus, Ohio, 
then Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Indiana, and was legally exchanged. He 
returned to his command in June following and did guard duty on the rail- 
roads during that summer and the ensuing fall and winter. In the spring at 
the reorganization of the army he was put in the Twentieth Corps, com- 
inamled by (ieii. Joe Hooker, and he took part in the following battles: 
Resaca. Golgotha. New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, the siege of At- 
lanta, and the battle of Averasboro, North Carolina, F"ebruary 16, 1865, and 
man\- others. He then accompanied Sherman on his memorable march to the 
sea. After taking Savannah. Georgia, they cros.sed into the Carolinas, living 
off of the country a.-; they went, destroyed tlie railroad and went on to Golds- 
boro, and were at Raleigh. North Carolina, wlien Lincoln was assassinated, 
soon after which Gen. Joe Johnston surrenilered. Mr. Coble was then sent 
to Washington, D. C. where lie participated in the Grand Review, and lliere 
he was mustered out, soon after which he returned home. He then resumed 
working l)y the month, which he continued for a year. 

On August 18, 1867, Mr. Coble was united in marriage to Carrie Mark, 
daughter of Thomas F. Mark. She was born in Hendricks county, Indiana. 
Of this union there was no issue. 

."-Xfter his marriage Mr. Coble moved to a rented farm in Florida town- 
ship, Parke county, where he lived six years, during winch time he got a 
good start. He then purchased a fine farm of two hundred and four acres 
west of Rosedale. where he moved and carried on general farming most suc- 
cessfully for a period of eighteen years. Selling out in i8()o. he hnuglit of S. 



674 PARKE AND VKRMII.l.IOX COL'XTIES, INDIANA. 

T. Catlin three hundred acres in section i, of Florida townsliip. which line 
and \aluable farm he still owns, and which he placed under a high state of 
modern impro\'ement and culti\ation. He also owns an excellent farm of 
one hundred and ninetx-six acres in Adams township, this county, also two 
\-aluable residences in Terre Haute. He resided on his three-hundred-acre 
farm for a period of ten years. On March 4, 1901, he removed to Rock- 
ville, ha\ing accumulated a handsome competency, and there purchased a 
modern and attractive residence on Howard avenue, one of the most desir- 
able homes in the city, and there he has since resided, surrounded 1;)\- all the 
comforts of life as a result of his earlier years of strenuous endeaxor and 
good management. 

Mr. Coble has always taken an abiding interest in public affairs, and in 
iS(;j he was elected count\' assessor, in which otfice he ser\-ed four years in 
an able and most acce])tal)le manner. He was appointed county commis- 
sioner tor the .second district, while he was in the .state of Florida in 1904, 
and he was elected to this office the following fall and re-elected three years 
later, thus serving six vears in all. It is the general consensus of opinion that 
the countx' never had a better commissioner, and during his incumbenc)' he 
did much for the permanent good of the comniunity. 

While in the army Mr, Coble kept a diary which is very interesting. He 
is a member of the Crand Army of the Republic, is a Mason, and a Republi- 
ctn in i)olitics. Mrs. Coble belongs to the Christian church. The subject and 
wife have spent several winters in Florida. They are splendid people to 
meet and have a host of friends throughout Parke county, indeed wherever 
thev are known. 



HENRY .\1.T,BRIGHT. 



When Henrv .\llbright. townslii]) trustee and ])rogressive farmer, be- 
gan life for himself he did not seek any easy road to prosperity, but began 
to work hard to advance himself, and this has been one of the principles of 
his success in life, for the man of energy and thrift always accomplishes 
something, ft mav not be what he had exi^ected. if he lie a very ambitious 
man: but one thing is certain, nothing is accomplished without industry and 
persistency. 

Mr. .Mlbrigbt. who is the owner of a finely improved and producti\e 
farm of fortV' acres in Vigo county, Inrliana, but whose intere.sts have also 
Ion"- centered in a wav at Rosedale, Parke countv, was born Deceml>er _'4, 



PARKE AM) \1'.1<MII.1.I()\ I'OCXTI ES. IXDIAXA. 675 

iSdj, in Raccimn li iw iisliip. I'arkc rimiU\. Indiana, and is a son of John and 
Rachael (Barnes) Alllirij^iit. llis fatht-r was a native ot \'iri;inia. where 
he sjjent his early bo_\-hood, lea\ inj^' there w lien a xoung man and coniinj^' to 
Indiana, settling in Parke county, where he became well established through 
hard work and honest dealings with his fellow men. He married and became 
the father of ele\en children, one of whom died in infancy. Henry, subject 
of this sketch, having been sixth in order of birth. 

Henr\- Allbright grew to manhood in Raccoon township and there he 
attended tlie rural schools at the Hartman schoolhouse. He has a wife, 
lulia l<"enc|ua\- Allbright. and a ilaughter. I'repple Allliright. Henry Allbright 
started in life for himself ;is a farmer and this has continued to be his voca- 
tion. 



DAVID WILLIAMS. 



The ])resent jwjpular and efficient ])ostmaster at Rosedale. P'arke county. 
David Williams, is a man who has lived tc^ good jjurpose and ranks with the 
leading citizens in his communitv. whose interests he has ever had ;U heart 
and done what he could to promote, lieing a man of public spirit and industry. 
His exemplarv character and ol)liging nature have won and retained the good 
will and respect of all who know him. 

Mr. Williams was born March jj. iSfi(). in Syracuse. Ohio, and is a 
son of David and Hannah (Hitchens) Williams, The father devoted his 
life to coal mining and has been deceased some time, having remained in 
Meigs countv. Ohio, He was ;i native of Wales, from which coimtry he 
came to Canada when a young man. remaining in the Dominion some time t>e- 
fore coming to Ohio. His family consisted of eight children, namely: John 
,-\.: William F. : David, of this review; Catherine is decea.sed : Thomas C.. 
Ollie, Lydia and Daniel. 

David Williams grew to manhood in Meigs county. Ohio, and there re- 
ceived his education in the common schools, and when but a boy lie began 
working in the mines, which he continued until taking the office of postmas- 
ter at Rosedale. Indiana, He served his time through all the different iK).si- 
tions about the mines and has become one of the best informed men in the 
business of coal mining in this vicinity, 

Mr, Williams was married on I'ebruary 14. 189-'. to lunma Ogden. 
<laughter of John and Mary Ogden. the former born in England and the lat- 
ter in Ireland, To the subject and wife three children have been born, name- 



676 PARKE AXD VERMII.r.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

ly : Norma. Mamie and E\erett. all attending school at this writing. The 
Williams family are affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Mr. Williams came to Parke county, Indiana, in 1887, and during 
the years of his residence at Rosedale has made a host of friends and has 
taken much interest in public affairs, doing what he could in the upbuilding 
of the town and community. Politically, he is a loyal Republican and is in- 
fluential locall}- in the party. He has served in the town council and was ap- 
pointed postmaster in 1911, of which office he is still incumbent and whose 
duties he is discharging in a manner highly acceptable to the people and the 
department. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON JACKS. 

A leading agriculturist of Parke county is George Washington Jacks, 
proprietor of a finely improved farm in Adams township, being among its 
pioneer farmers, having maintained a home here all his life, being one of the 
nati\'e sons of the township who have done so much to develop his com- 
munity in all its phases until it ranks with the leading communities of this 
section of the state, and now, in the golden evening of his life, this venerable 
citizen is enjoying the fruits of a well spent life and the esteem of a wide 
circle of friends. 

Mr. Jacks was born in section 2i-- Adams township, Parke county, In- 
diana, August 7, 1835, on the farm which he now owns, and is a son of Reu- 
ben and Hannah (Irvin) Jacks. Reuben Jacks was born in North Carolina. 
October 22, 1809, and from there he went to Tennessee early in life to make 
his home. He came to Parke county, Indiana, in 1831, and located on the 
land now belonging to the subject, when the country was wild and sparsely 
settled, and here he began life in typical pioneer fashion. He developed a 
good farm in due course of years, which has never left the hands of the fam- 
ilv and which has been so carefully cultivated as to retain its original fertility. 

To Reuben Jacks and wife were torn twelve children, namely: Samuel 
E. is deceased ; George W.. of this review: Daniel W.. William M., Julia A. 
are all deceased : Racbael S. was next in order : Sarah E. is deceased : ^Martha 
E. and Mary E. were next in order; John O. is deceased: R. K. and ?klag- 
gie B. were the youngest. All of the above named children grew to man- 
hood and womanhood and were married and reared families except William 
M. Two of them were soldiers in the Union army during the Civil war. 
William M. served in Company K, Fourteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry; 



PARKIC AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 677 

lie was disabled, was furloughed and died at home. Daniel was a soldier in 
the Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. 

George \\'. Jacks grew to manhood on the home farm and there made 
himself useful during his boyhood days, and in the school months he was to 
be found with the usual text-books in the schools of his home district. He 
remained at home until he was twenty-four years old. He was married 
March lo. 1859, to Hila A. Sapp, daughter of George and Phoebe (Hudson) 
Sapp. These parents came from Clerijiont county, Ohio, and here became well 
established through their industry, and were people of the best character. 

Three children were born to Mr. Jacks and wife, namely: .Anderson 
M. married Frankie Kerr, and they have two children, Frank, who is married, 
and Fay: W. B., who married Anna E. Cox: Martha A. married Ezekiel 
A. Williams, and they have eight children, namely : George, who married 
Florence Miller, has one child, .\daline, who is a great-granddaughter of the 
subject: Alva, deceased: Edith. Hila: Harold, deceased: Hubert, Gertrude, 
Homer. 

Mr. Jacks has a well improved and \ery productix'e farm of five hundred 
eighty-six and one-half acres, which he keeps well stocked witli an excellent 
grade of live stock. He has a commodious dwelling and large, convenient out- 
buildings, everything about the place denoting thrift and good management, 
and he is very fond of his home. He was married a .second time, his last 
wife being Susan B. Asbury. who died about six years ago. 

Mr. Jacks is a Republican, but he is not a politician, though he is inter- 
ested in public affairs and suiijiorts all measures looking toward the general 
improvement of his county. The Jacks family are all affiliated with the 
Methodist Episco|)al church. 



T. H. MYERS. 



Agriculture has been the true source of man's dominion on earth ever 
since the i^rinml existence of lalxir and has been the pivotal industry that has 
controlled for the most part all the fields of action to which his intelligence 
and energy have been devoted. Among this sturdy element of Parke county, 
whose labors have ])rofited alike themselves and the community in which they 
live, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. 

T. H. Myers, who is a scion of one of our worthy old families, was born 
at Rockville, Parke county, Indiana, May 10, 1853, and here he has continued 
to reside, being contented to spend his life in his nati\c communit\-. He is a 



6/8 PARKE AXD XF.KMII.LION CorXTIES. IXDIAXA. 

son ot James and Meriali i Painter) Myers. The father came to this state 
from Ohio. l)ut was horn in i'ennsyh ania. antl when a young man he came to 
Indiana unaccompanied His father remained in the Ea.st all his life. James 
Myers was a carpenter l)y trade and became a very skilled workman, his ser\- 
ices being in great demand among the early settlers. His famil\- consisted of 
nine children. 

[. H. M\ers grew to manhood in this county and he recei\ed a good 
l)ractical education in the common schools, ])artl\'at Rockville and partly in 
the country schools. On Decenil>er 9. 1877, when twenty- fnur years of age, 
he was united in marriage ti) Xancy J. I'ollard. daughter of Joseph and 
Elizabeth il'ierce) Pollard, a higiily respected old family of this locality. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Myers the following children have been born; William, 
Stacv. .\lma Leona, Charles Otis and flladys Marie. 

Mr. M\ers turned his attention to farming when a young man and this 
has C'lntinued to l)e his vocation. He has ))een very successful as a general 
farmer and stock raiser, and is at ])resent the owner of a producti\e and 
liighK im])ro\ed farm of sixty-six acres on a by-road near the hospital, in 
.\dams township. The state hospital commission bought forty acres of the 
farm of one hundred and six acres for a dairy farm. Mr. Myers has studied 
the \arious phases of farming and has carefully rotated his crops and added 
\arious improxeiuents from time to time until he now has one of the most 
desirable places in this part of the county. He has a cozy home and a number 
of con\enient and substantial outbuildings. 



LEWIS E. .\D.\MS. 



One of the liest known farmers and highly respected citizens of .\dams 
township, I'arke county, during a past generation was the late Lewis E. .Xdams. 
a man wiio did much toward the general upbuilding of his locality, who 
played well his part as a public spirited citizen and whose memory will long 
be revered by a vast host of friends. He was a man of industry, belie\ ed in 
employing all his time to advantage, and in keeping his farm in first-class 
condition, so that it ranked with the best and most desirable in the com- 
munity. He was a man of generous im])ulses, hospitable and charitably in- 
clined, who delighted in assisting others on the highway of life. He came of 
one of our sterling old pioneer families and he took a delight in keejjing its 
name untarnished. He was equally noted as a stock man. handling large num- 
bers of animals from vear to year. 



I'AKKK AM) \'KRMII.I,I()N COf XTl I'.S. I.XKIAXA. Cjjg 

Mr. Adams was Ixn'ii mi ihc old AilauN lumifstcad in the \\ all.•l^l1 hut- 
tonis. I'arkc rdiinty. Indiana, on Sf])K'nilier i J. 1X5(1. and was a son (if |iilin 
E. and l"".Iizal)eth ( Bullington ).\(lanis. The father was hut a child when he 
accompanied his parents from Kentucky to I'arkc county. Inchana, tliev he- 
in,^- amoiii;- tlie earliest settlers here. They began life in the woods, literally 
hewini^- out their farm from the wilderness. Xeighhors were \er\' few and 
\ery far removeil in this ]jart of tiie state at that time; there were no roads 
an<l all manner of w ild t;ame infested the I'ungles. 

Lewis 1-'.. Adams i^rew to manhood on the home farm and there he as- 
sisted with the i^eneral wurk when he became of proper age. anil he recei\"ed 
his education in the rural schools of his neighborhood. When he reached 
maturity he began farming for himself and soon had a good start. He became 
the owner of a splendid farm in his nati\e locaiitv on which he carried on 
general farming and stock raising. 

Mr. .\danis was married on A])ril 19, 18S5. to Rosa M. Staggs. (laugh- 
ter of John and La\ina Staggs. and the subject and wife became the parents 
of six children, all sons, namely: Merrett. who lives in Seattle. Washington, 

is a member of the city fire dejiartment: l'la\- married Ethel W 1; I'ark. 

Eschol. |ohn and (ieorge all live in Seattle, Washington. 

Politically. Mr. .\dams was a Democrat, but was not a public man. He 
belongetl to the Independent Order of Odd h'ellows and the liajjtist church. 
The death of Mr. .\dams occurred on January 3. 1902. 



R. f. RUSING. 



One of the venerable agriculturists anil stock raisers of I'arke county is 
R. J. Rusing, who owns a highly improved and i)roductive farm of ninety- 
one and a fraction acres on the Rockville and ( ireencastle road, about four 
miles from the countv .seat. He is a man who has contributed in no .small de- 
gree to the material and civic welfare of the township in which he has long 
resided, for he is not only a man of industry and clean personal habits, but 
is public s])n-ited an<l likes to see things progress, the old give way to the new 
and better. 

Mr. Rusing was born in h'ranklm county. Indiana. June 11. iSV'. the 
son of John and Lo\ iah ( Thonip.son) Rusing. The father al.so was born and 
reared in iManklin coinit\ . and there the subject grew to manhood and was 
educated in the common schools, working on the farm during his .school i)eriod 
as much as time would permit. When still a young man he came to Parke 



68o PARKE AND VERMILLION' COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

county, this state, and worked out at farm work until he could get a start. 
He saved his money and purchased his present home place, which he has im- 
proxed from time to time until it is one of the choice and vahiable farms of 
the township, where he has met with continued success as a general farmer 
and stock raiser, haxing a pleasant home and good outbuildings. 

Air. Rusing was married on March 8, i860, to Mary E. Swaim, daugh- 
ter of Peter M. and Nancy Ann (Ball) Swaim. The father was but a babv 
when his parents brought him to Parke county, Indiana, from North Caro- 
lina, and settled about three miles south of where the subject li\es. The 
Swaim family was a large one, and the wife of Mr. Rusing was the oldest 
child. Mr. Swaim was a self-educated man. He became a minister in the 
Baptist church and did a great deal of good during his life w^ork. being well 
and favorably known throughout this part of the state. The union of the 
subject and wife has been without issue. "Sir. Rusing has a neice, who is the 
wife of James Stryker. 

Mr. Rusing belongs to the New Discovery chin-ch and is acti\e in the 
work of the same. lil)erally supporting it. He has long been regarded as one 
of the influential men of his community, and takes a more or less acti\'e in- 
terest in puljlic affairs; however, he has never been much of a public man. 
merely trying to ilo his duty as a good citizen. He was at one time elected 
justice of the ])eace. but declined to cjualifv. 



ISAAC M. OVERPECK. 

One of the leading farmers of Adams township. Parke county, is Isaac 
M. Oxerpcck, owner of a finely impro\'ed and protluctixe place of three hun- 
dred and forty acres, fortunatel_\- locatetl in one of the richest farming com- 
munities in the Wabash \alley, about fi\e miles from Rockville. Mr. 0\'er- 
peck has long been regarded as one of our most enterprising and public- 
spirited citizens and a man who believes in wholesome living and honesty in 
politics, and he has ever advocated those measures which make for progress 
in every relation of life. 

Mr. Overpeck was born December 16, 1865, in Jackson township. Parke 
county, Indiana, and he is a son of Andrew and Rebecca (Thom])son) Over- 
peck. The father came from Butler county, Ohio, with his parents when 
he was thirteen _\ears old, and here the family matle permanent settlement. 
The father of Andrew Overpeck was Jacob Overpeck. and the latter became 
well known in Parke county in the early days. Andrew 0\'erpeck was edu- 



PARKE AND VERMII.I.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 68 1 

cated in the conmiuii schools of Ohio and In(Hana, and here he grew to man- 
hood and was married, and to his union witli Rebecca Thompson eleven 
children were born, namely: William, Amanda, Nancy, Mary. Albert. (leorge. 
Andrew, James, Isaac M. (the subject), Oscar and Jennie. 

Isaac M. Overpeck grew up on the home farm and worked with .his 
father when a boy. He received his education in the common schools. His 
father died when the boy was twenty-one years old. and tlie lad took charge 
of that year's crops, and later the estate was divided up. 

Mr. Overpeck was married August 17, 1890, to Margaret .Miller, daugh- 
ter of James N. and Sarah (Snow) Miller. Three children were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Overpeck, namely : Hervey, who is at home, but has finished 
schooling: Mary is at home, and Martha died at eight months of age. 

Mr. 0\erpeck has been very successful as a general farmer and stock 
raiser and he farms scientifically, although he knows little of the science as 
is obtained, from books, his scientific knowledge having been obtained from 
practical experience, close observation and careful thought and experiment. 
He has one of the most desirable farms in the "county, everything denoting 
good management. His home is large and pleasant, in the midst of attrac- 
tive surroundings, and he has such barns and outbuildings and modern farm- 
ing implements as his needs rcc|uire. Always a good grade of live stock is to 
be seen about his place. 

Politicallv, Mr. Overpeck is a Democrat, and while he is not a ])ublic 
man, he is deeph- interested in whatever tends to the betterment of his town- 
ship and count}-. Religiously, he is a member and liberal supporter of the 
Baptist church. 

Andrew Overpeck, father of the subject, was married a second time, his 
last wife being Charlotte Caress, and to this union one child has been born, 
Elias Overpeck, who married Mary Miller and to them the following chil- 
dren have been born : Norine, Earl. IVIarie, Fred, deceased, Ruth and Clav. 



SER \STI AX nCRR. 



Among the sturdv and enter])rising farmers of Adams township, Parke 
county, is the gentleman whose name appears above, A\hose life has been one 
of industrv and strict adherence to honorable principles, which has resulted 
in gaining a comfortable living and at the same time winning the respect 
of his fellow men and honoring the community. Sebastian Durr was born 
on .Au.gust 4, 1862. in \\'ashington county. Kentucky, the son of Sebastian 



682 PARKE AND VERMII.MOX COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

and Ivitty Ann (Steins) Durr. The father was bom and reared in the same 
county as was the subject; in fact, he spent his entire hfe there. He was the 
father of five children, namely: Xai)oleon. Jacob. James and Mary are all 
living in Kentucky: Sebastian. Jr.. .subject of this sketch. 

Sebastian Durr grew to manhood on the home farm in the Blue (jrass 
state and there he assisted with the work when a boy. and he received his 
education in the common schools of his coninnmity. He had not been born 
w hen his father died. At the a.ge of twenty years he came to Putnam county, 
Indiana, and there worked on a farm alxuit three years. He saved his money 
and thereb}- got a start in life, then went to California and worked on a fruit 
ranch for some time. Returning to Indiana, he purchased eighty acres in 
Washington township. Parke county, which he later disposed of and purchased 
the fine farm which he now owns, consisting of one hundred and se\ent\-nine 
acres on the Rockville and Terre Haute road, in Adams townshi]). This he 
keeps well improved and carefully cultivated and carries on general farming 
and stock raising. He has met with encouraging success and has a good home 
and is one of the sulistantial farmers of his township. 

Air. Durr was married December 27,. 1890. to Flora Eusebia Overman, 
daughter of John and Amanda (Burford) Overman. Mr. Overman came 
from North Carolina to Parke county. Indiana, among the early settlers, he 
ha\ing Iieen a young man. accompanied by his brother Charles. They 
were the sons of Daniel and .\nna 0\erman. Charles married, but had no 
children. The familv is now all deceased. To John Overman and wife were 
born nine children, namely: William B., Charles \\'.. Jnlm 1).. Zachary T.. 
Thomas P., V'oorhees, \'irginia. Sarah A. and Flora E., wife of Mr. Durr of 
this review. The union of the subject and wife has been without issue. The 
subject has a nephew working for him. the only other Durr in Parke county. 
Air. Durr is a Democrat, politically. 



JAMES W". PUETT. 

The biographer is glad to herein set forth the salient facts in the emi- 
nently successful and honorable career of the well remembered and highly 
esteemed citizen of Parke county whose name appears above, the last chapter 
in whose life record has l>een closed In" the hand of death, and the seal set 
thereon forever, but whose influence still pervades the lives of tli<ise with 
whom he came in contact. For many years he was closely identified with 
the agricultural interests of the county, ranking among the leaders of this 



I'AUKi-: A.xi) \i-;k.mii.i.i()\ torxTiF.s. Indiana. 683 

liistorv-olil xucation. Mr. I'uett was also a man wlio lonk a threat deal uf 
interest in whatever tended toward the iiplniilding and ])rogress of his count)', 
aiding in e\ery way pussihle in prcmioting the general good of the eoni- 
ninnit}-. And he was a man of sucii a high sense nf honor, so neighhorly 
and hospitahle, hel])fnl and generons, that he was held in the highest esteem 
h\- all who knew him. 

James "Whit" I'uett, w Ik.) was the hwikt nf a line farm nf alumt two 
hundred and sixty-ti\e acres on the Kockxille and Ri)sedale road, ahout two 
miles southwest of Rock\ille. was horn rju Decemher 3. iS^S. on Rig Raccoon 
creek, on the I'uett homestead, I'arke countx. Indiana, which place was 
settled hy his progenitors in the early days of the count\'s history, and from 
that day to the i)resent the I'uett fannly has heen one <if the most prominent 
in this locality. The suhject was tin- son df .\ustin M. and Lucinda ( Fuett) 
Puett. his father haxiug cunie fmm .Xorth Carolina to Ohin and later to 
Indiana, where he took up go\ernmcnt land and there reared a large family, 
consisting of the following childrcti : Cole, William. .Mhert. .\ustin, Caroline 
and Louisa, all <>i whom are now deceased: Thomas 1>. and James "Whit." 

lames W. I'uett was reared in tnwii, his father. Austin I'uett, moving 
from the country to the town of Rock\ille, and he received his education in 
the puhlic schools of his community, later taking a classic course. He hegan 
life fur himself 1)\ raising stock, for which lie had a natural hent and in which 
he was succeeding. Then the Civil war came on and .\lr. I'liett enlisted 
when he was ahout twenty-two years old in the l'"orty-third Indiana XDlunteer 
Infantrv as a musician, in which he served faithfully for a ])eriod of two 
rears, .\tfer receiving an honijral)le discharge he ictm-ned hnme and took 
up farm work, which he continued the rest of his life with ever-increasing 
success, accumulating a comfortahle com])etency through his industry and ahle 
management, owning one of the most desirahle jjlace- in Adams township. 

Mr. Puett was married on Decemher 2J,. iSfi^. to jane llarshman, daugh- 
ter of Thomas and .\mia ( Overi)eck ) Harshman. w ho removetl from Butler 
county in 1840 to Parke county. Indiana, and here hecame well established. 
His family consi.sted of five children, namely: Elizaheth is deceased: Jane, 
who hecame the wife of .Mr. I'uett of this memoir: Margaret was next in 
order: Rliza : Harhara \i.. the widow of T. I'., i'uett. mentioned elsewhere. 

I-'raternally, Mr. Puett was a member of the .\las(jnic order and was 
one of the active men in the local lodge. In politics he affiliated with the 
Democratic partv. but was never nntch of a imblic man. though his .support 
could always be deijended upon in the furtiierance of any measure looking 
toward the general good of his township and county. 



684 PARKE AND \'ERinLLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

The death of James W. Puett occurred Alay 6. 1909. His widow . a lady 
of many praiseworthy characteristics and who has always been a favorite 
with a w ide circle of friends, has remained on the home place. • 



THOMAS BENTON PUETT. 

A list of the worthy and useful citizens of Parke county during a past 
generation would certainly be incomplete were there failure to make con- 
spicuous mention of the late Thomas Benton Puett. a representative of one 
of the county's prominent families, for his life was one of industry, helpful- 
ness and uprightness, resulting in good to every one with whom he came into 
contact, whether in a business or social way: and. his life being exemplary 
in every w ay. his record might well be held up for consideration by the youth 
with the latter part of life's thorny road yet stretching to unknown realms be- 
fore them. He was a good citizen in every respect, and unhesitatingly offered 
his services, and his life if need be. to assist in preserving the Union when 
the flames of the great Civil w ar threatened to destroy the land. 

Mr. Puett was born June 5, 1843. '" Adams township, Parke county, 
Indiana. He was a son of Austin and Lucinda Puett. his father having 
come from North Carolina to Ohio, and later to Indiana, where he took up 
government land and there reared a large family, consisting of the following 
children : Cole. William. Albert. Austin. Caroline and Louisa, all now de- 
ceased : Thomas B. and James "Whit." 

Thomas B. Puett grew to manhood in his native community and received 
his early education in the common schools. When the Civil war came on he 
enlisted in Company K. Forty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which 
he served most faithfully. He was married upon reaching manhood to Bar- 
bara Ellen Harshman, daughter of Thomas and Anna Harshman. a highly 
respected family of this section of the state. To the subject and wife one 
child was born. Anna, who married Oscar Cox. and they have one daughter. 
Ruth, who is attending school at this writing at Depauvv l^niversity. She 
is preparing to be a teacher. 

Oscar Cox was born on September 10. 1863, in Parke county. Indiana, 
and was a son of John B. and Maria Cox. well known in this countv. where 
they devotefl their lixes to farming. Oscar Cox was educated in the country 
schools and worked on the farm during the school period. He started out for 
himself when but a young man. and. being energetic and tactful, he met with 
success from the first. He is now deceased, having passed away on Januaiy 



PARKE Axn VERMir.r.iox corxTiES. ixiuAXA. 685 

19, 1908, leaving his widow alxjut seventy-five acres of excellent land as a 
resnlt of his earnest toil. Politically, Mr. Cox was a Democrat, but he was 
never a public man, notwithstanding he supported all measures looking toward 
the public good. The death of Thomas \>. Puett occurred May 28, 1903. 



LYCURGLTS T. STONER. 

The name of Lycurgus T. Stoner needs no introduction to, the readers 
of this history in view of the fact that he has long been a well-known and in- 
fluential citizen in Parke county, w hose interests he has e\'er had at heart and 
sought to promote when occasion presented itself, and, being a man of in- 
dustry and exemplary character, he has always stood high in the estimation of 
the people. 

Mr. Stoner, who ranks with our thriftiest agriculturists, being the owner 
of a well-improved and productive farm of one hundred and fourteen acres, 
and who lives with his father-in-law, Ezekiel D. Hamilton, also one of our 
worthiest and best known citizens, was l)orn in 1839 in Putnam county. In- 
diana, is a son of Joseph and Martha (Hall) Stoner. The father was one of 
the early land owners in this county and a very prominent farmer. His family 
consisted of si.x children, namely: Lycurgus. of this review; Lucy. Ed., 
Albert ; William is deceased ; Mattie w as the youngest. 

Lycurgus T. Stoner grew to manhood on his father's farm and there 
he worked when he became of proper age. In the school months he attended 
the rural schools, and when but a young man started in life for himself. On 
Octol)er 18, ic)oo. he was married to Mary E. Hamilton, daughter of Ezekiel 
D. and Mary Florence (Torbcl) }Lunilton. Mr. Hamilton was born in 
Jackson county, Indiana, August 3, 1843. He was a son of John and Martha 
(Buchanan) Hamilton, the former a native of Kentucky and the son of 
lames Hamilton, who came from Ireland and settled in \'irginia. It is 
believed he was the first Hamilton to emigrate to .\merica. Early in life 
Ezekiel D. Hamilton went to Boone county, Indiana, and thence to Jackson 
county, coming to Parke county in 1850, and here he has remained ever since. 
When fifteen years of age he commenced working on the farm and soon had 
saved enough monev to buy a piece of land. He purchased the land he now 
lives on after he was married. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Hamilton, Marv Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Stoner, and they have three children, 
namely : Clarence H., Joseph D. and Robert T. 

Mr. Hamilton is one of the honored veterans of the great Ci\il war, 



686 PARKK AXD \"ERMII.I.IOX COUNTIES, IXniAXA. 

luuiiii;- enlisted in .\])ril. 1861. soon after Lincoln's first call for loxal sons of 
the Xr)rth to put down the rebellion, and he served most faithfully and gal- 
lantlx- in the I'"ourteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry for a period of three 
years, seeing' much hard service and ])articipating in a number of important 
engagements, his regiment having lieen in the following battles: Winchester, 
(Ireen Brier, brederickshurg. Chancellorsville, Wilderness. Spottsvh-ania 
Court House and Cold Harbor, including nearlv all the great liattles of the 
^\'ar. 

After he was honorably discharged Mr. Hamilton returned home and 
worked in a saw -mill for man\' year.s and later took up farming, which he has 
followed since in a successful manner. 



GUY BRV.WT. 



.\ list of I'arke county's prominent families would certainl\- lie incom- 
plete were there failure to make specific mention of the well-known farmer 
and representative citizen, and his relati\es. whose name introduces this 
sketch, for his life has been one of industry, usefulness and honor, resulting 
in good to everyone with whom he has had dealings. 

Ciuv Brvant, owner of a hnelv improved and producti\e farm of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres on the Bryant road, about three miles south of Rock- 
ville, Parke county, was born .\pril 6, 1856. on the farm which he now owns, 
and here he grew to maturity and has always lived in .Adams townshi]j. He 
received his education in the rural schools of his neighborhood. He is a .son of 
Andrew and Emeline ( Cornthwaite ) Bryant. The father came from Vir- 
ginia and was a very earlv settler in Parke county, well known to the ]jioneer 
element, and here he developed a good farm from the wilderness and became 
a substantial anrl highly respected citizen. The Cornthwaite family came from 
near Davton. C)hio, and are still a large and influential family in this section 
of Indiana. 

The subject was nine \ears old when his father died, and the farm was 
then operated h\ an older brother of the subject, (iuy Bryant assisted with 
the work on the home farm during his school period, and when nineteen 
years of age he began life for himself and until recently successfully devoted 
him.self to agricultural pursuits and stock raising. Having accumulated a 
competencv for his old age. he is now living in retirement, haxing turned his 
farm over to his family. 

In March, 1882, Mr. Bryant was united in marriage to Laura E. Beatty. 



fAKKIC AXI) \i:k. MILLION" COl'NTIKS. IXDIAXA. C^^J 



dauglitcr of janies C. and Sarali !•". ( Xutgrass) Bealty, tlie lallier having 
been born near Rock\ille. Iiubana, tine rf])resentative of a \erv old family. 
Nine children were born to James C. Beatty and wife, nameiv : Laura F... 
wife of the subject: Miklred, Ro.sette and Charles are all decea.'^ed : Mrs. 
Emma Lang; Mrs. Cora Barnes lives at Raccoon, Indiana; Edward. Joe and 
George. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brvant. nameiv: 
Blanche May married D. A. Pence and thev haxe nne son. Maurice: Otto H. 
is at home ; Ethel married Walter Clark. 



ALOXZO SOULES. 



The farming element of I'arkc county has an al)lc e\ioi>ncnt in Alonzo 
SouPes. a nian who has learned the art of husbandry not from an agricultural 
college or from ])erusing agricultural and horticultural journals, but b\' prac- 
tical experience, l>eing by nature a close observer and a ])ersistent worker, 
and he has therefore succeeded where. ]>erliaps, others wDuld ha\e failed. 

Mr. Soules is the owner of a pro(lucti\e and well-improved ])lace of 
se\enty-fi\e acres on the Mecca and Rockville road, al>out a mile and a half 
southwest of Rockville, in Adams township. He was born March i, 1855, 
near Terre Haute, in \ igtj count\. Indiana, and is the son of Lemuel P>. and 
Anna J. MacKenzie. The father was iiorn and reared in \'igo count) on 
his father's farm, near the edge of the city limits of Terre Haute. His father. 
William Soules. came from the north of Ireland and settled in Vigo county, 
having first remained a while in Ohio, from which state he nio\ed on to the 
vicinity of Terre Haute. His son. Samuel Soules. took u]) eighty acres early 
in life, started in for himself and made a success. 

Alouzo Soules was educated in the old log schoolhouse near his home, 
and he worked on the farm during the vacation months. .\t the age of twenty 
years he i)urciiase(l a ])iecc of land from his father, and had a small fann. 
wliich he later sold, after which he came to .\dams townshi]). Parke county, 
about nine years ago. and bougiit land, and here he has continued to reside 
and develo]) a good farm and make a good livin.g. laying liy .all the while for 
his old age. 

Mr. Soules was married on November 1. 1875. to Josephine Kitchell, 
daughter of .\ll)ert and Xancy (Parmer) Kitchell. Her father came from 
Owen countv, Indiana, from which he removed to Coles county, Illinois, 
where he followed farming and cariientering. and there he and his wife both 



688 PARKE AND \'ERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

died. The subject's wife was reared there and received her education in the 
common schools. 

Four children have been born to ]\lr. and Mrs. Soules. namely: Frank, 
who married in Texas, hasi three children, Aaron, Raymond and Ovid ; Norah, 
wife of Ovid Mason, are both deceased, leaving one child, Leo, who lives 
with the subject and is attending school ; George Soules is deceased : Candissa 
is also deceased. Mrs. Soules died March 9, 1912, and Mr. Soules married, 
on October 3, 1912. Mrs. Minnie Thompson, of Parke county. 

Mr. Soules is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and 
the family are Methodists. He was at one time supervisor and road overseer 
in Vigo county. Politically, he is a Republican. 



PERCY SEYBOLD. 



One of the progressi\e }oung farmers of the vicinity of Rockville and a 
representative of one of Parke county's highly honored families is Percy 
Seybold, who has had the privilege, not vouchsafed to many of us, of spending 
his life on the old home place. This is a privilege which he appreciates as 
well as he should, for there is «. charm about the home of our childhood 
w hich we never find elsewhere. Useless to say that he is keeping the old farm 
in excellent condition, rotating his crops and employing such other scientific 
methods of farming as are calculated to preserve the original fertility and 
strength of the soil, which he is managing for the heirs. 

Mr. Seybold was born on the farm he now occupies, in Adams township, 
Parke county. Indiana, September i. 1887, and is a son of Jasper L. and Mar- 
garet (Neet) Seybold. The father was also born on this farm and lived here 
all of his life, becoming one of the leading general farmers of the locality. 
He received his education in the neighboring schools, and early in life tle\oted 
his attention exclusively to general farming and stock raising. This place 
was settled by the paternal grandfather of the subject in a very early day 
when the country round about was sparsely settled and little improved and 
thus the Seybold family has been well known here for many decades. 

Four children were born to Jasper Seybold and wife, namely: Xettie 
is the wife of Owen Swain, and they have one child, Harriet Evelyn Swain; 
Roscoe lives in Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Purdue University, being 
an electrical engineer; Percy, of this review, and Glaydis. 

Percy Seybold. after passing through the local public schools, took an 
agricultural course at Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana. He returned 



PARKE AXn VKRMir.I.ION COIXTIES, INDIANA. 689 

to the home farm after leavinj;- the university and here he has remained, 
making a pronounced success as an agriculturist. o])erating tlie same on a 
scientific basis. This place consists of one hundred and eighty-six acrc<, all 
under cultivation. Fraternally he is a Mason, and the family holds memher- 
ship in the Methodist Episcopal church. 



WlidJAM 1!. COLTJNGS. 

The opportunities offered the farmer in I'arke county are without 
(|uestion superior to those of most sections of the lloosier state. Nature has 
indeed been lavish with her luirn uf Cornucopia in this rich Wabash \alley 
country: but, notwithstanding these facts, success as a general farmer here 
is not to he pbtained by the slothful and loafer. Hard, persistent effort and 
good management are required here just as they are in other parts of the 
country. One of the men realizing this is William ?>. ColHngs, who lives on 
a finely impro\ed and productive farm of eighty acres, and in one of the t'mest 
rural homes in the county, known as "Allendale," and who is also the owner 
of two hundred and forty-two acres on the Collings gravel road. 

Mr. Collings was born on ?klarch 3, 1861. on the above mentioned farm, 
which is known as the CoUings home place. He is a son of Spotsard and 
i^ebecca ( Mattox) Collings, both parents coming from Kentuckv to this 
county in an early day. the family having been an inlluential one in Shelby 
county, in the Bhie Grass state. However, these parents were not married 
there, the father ha\ing been but eight years old when he accompanied his 
parents to Indiana. He was a farmer all his life. The Collingses were among 
the very first to settle in this vicinity of Parke county. 

The subject of this sketch is one of seven boys, namely: Archibald B., 
Dr. S. 1'., Abraham J-. Hr. Oliver I', (deceased). Xeri. William P... of this 
sketch, and Dr. Howard i'. Dr. S. P. Collings and Dr. Howard P. Collings 
are located at Hot Springs, Arkansas, and are medical men of national reputa- 
tion, being especially prominent and inlluential in the councils of the various 
medical associations of .\merica. Dr. S. P. is a thirty-third-degree Mason. 

William B. Collings grew to manhood on the home farm and there he 
assisted w ith the general work when he became of proper age, and during the 
winter months he received his education in the public school in his district. 
When twenty-one years of age lie purchased seventy-five acres of land from 
his father, which he worked with success, and in alwut five years he added to 
his original purciiase, and succeeding years have brought him a large degree of 
(44) 



690 PARKE AXD VERMILI.IOX COIXTIES, INDIANA. 

prosperity, and one would indeed be compelled to make a wide search through- 
out the state to find his su])erior as a modern agriculturist. He has his place 
well improxed and under a high state of cultivation, on which stands a beau- 
tiful home and numerous sul:)stantia! outbuildings. 

Mr. Collings was married on December 24. 1884, to Laura B. Hamilton, 
daughter of Xorval and Alary ("Cress) Hamilton, a highly respected family. 
To this union four children ha\'e been lx)rn, namely : Edgar G., Brooks T., 
H. Banks, Sylvia AI. Brooks T. Collings married W. E. Eerguson, but this 
union was without issue. Nerval W. }lamilton was a patriot in the Mexican 
\\ar. .\mong the most conspicuous of the deeds of daring performed during 
that great conflict was that of Private Xorval Hamilton at the battle of Bellen 
Gate. It was one of those desperate assaults previous to the capture of the 
City of Mexico. The fighting was hand to hand and raged furiously. The 
Mexicans were often intrenched Ijehind works that were deemed impregnable. 
At Bellen Gate the regiment of mounted riflemen, to which Xor\-al Hamilton 
belonged, was in the front rank, and he was the first man to force his way 
through and among the enemy. This act was recognized by the personal 
thanks of President Polk in a "certificate of merit." Mr. Hamilton served 
two vears and two months in the Mexican war. He w as born in Riple}- coun- 
ty, Indiana, November 18. 1826. He married Mary J. Cress November 12, 
1853. and became the father of fifteen children. 

Mr. Collings is a member of the Masonic order and is master of Parke 
Lodge No. 8, which position he has held for the past three years. He has 
long manifested an abiding interest in ])ublic afifairs and is an influential factor 
in the Democratic party. In the year 1910 he was his party's candidate for 
state senator from this district. He made an excellent race, hut was defeated, 
however 1)\- onlv thirtx' \T)tes. 



W. H. M.WWELL. 



One of the enterprising farmers of Parke county who has appreciated 
home conditions and has been content to sjiend his life in his natix'e locality 
is \\". H. Maxwell, the scimi of one of our worthy old families, and he has 
ever endeavored to keep the good name of the same untarnished, and is there- 
fore highly respected in his neighborhood. He has been very successful in 
his chosen line of endeavor and is now living on a productive and well im- 
prox'ed place on tlie Bloomingdale road. He was l>orn in Adams township, 
aliout a half mile from his present farm, on the place known as the General 



PAkKK AM) \'i:k.mii.i.i(i.v cotxties. ixdiaxa. 691 

Ilciward farm and while young his parents nio\eil to town. There lie grew 
to manhood, attending tlie schools in town. >1e is a son of Samuel and Eliza 
Ann (Sunderland) ^laxwell. The father of the subject came from Bloom- 
ington, Indiana, where he attended college, and after graduation came to 
Rockville, Indiana, and took up the study of law under Ticneral Howard, who 
was a prominent attorney here at that time. Having been duly admitted to 
the bar he opened an office and became one of the leading attorneys of the 
county and a man [jrominent in public affairs. He was finally elected common 
jileas judge for two counties. Parke and \'erniillion : afterward judge of the 
circuit court, consi.sting of three counties. Parke, \"igo and Sullivan, which 
important office he filled to the eminent satisfaction of his con.stituents. being 
one of the widelv known and honored jurists of his day and generation in 
this section of the state. 

Four chil'dren were born to Judge ^laxwell and wife, namely; Mary, 
Jewell, Louise and W. H.. the subject. 

W, H. Maxwell was not robust during his young boyhood days and his 
schooling was interrui)tcd on this account. At the age of twenty-one he went 
on a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of fine timber land. He later 
sold .some of this place to an Indianapolis concern, then purchased his present 
home place of two hundred and thirty acres, which he has Imnight up to a 
high state of cultixation anfl improvement, where he carries on general 
farming and stock raising, and on which he has a commodious dwelling and 
good outbuildings. 

P.VRKl'. PHll.l.ll'S. 

Wabash township, Parke county, Indiana, has produced many young men 
who have proven successes m whatever they have attempted as a life work, 
and among them we are glad to add the name of Parke Phillips, the present 
callable and i)0])ular engineer of the Mecca Coal Company. He decided to 
learn the mining business w hen but a boy and he began earnestly at the bottom, 
so there wnuld be no missing links, and. having laid a broa<l and sound 
foundation, he is in line for much greater success in the future. He is not 
only capable, but is a man of good personal habits and has proven to his em- 
ployers that thev can rei)ose the utmost confidence in him. 

Mr. Phillips was born on June 30. t88j, in Waba.sh township, Parke 
countv. Indiana, and he is a son of Samuel and Anna (Chew) Phillips. The 
father was born in this county in 1861 and is still living in Wabash township, 
where he has devoted his life to general farming and is still active. The 



692 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

mother of the subject was born in 1864 in this township and county, and she, 
too, is still living. Here these parents grew up and received a common school 
training and were married in their native community. They became the 
parents of five children, all of whom are still living. 

Parke Phillips grew to manhood on the farm, where he worked when 
growing up. and he received his education in the public schools. On August 
10, 1902, he was united in marriage to Effie Bufifington. who was born on 
October 18. 1884, in Parke county, the daughter of John and Mary (Berkis) 
Bufiington. To this union two children have been born, Lena and Muriel, 
the latter being deceased. 

Mr. Phillips remained on the home farm until he was about nineteen 
years of age, when he began working in the mines, starting at the bottom 
and working up, and his rise was rapid. He has been in the employ of the 
Mecca Coal Company for a period of eleven years, and is now engineer, which 
position he has held for four years, giving the utmost satisfaction. He has 
the usual duties of a mine engineer, all of which he discharges very faithfully 
and conscientiously. He is liked by both his employers and the men about 
the mines. 

Fraternally, Mr. Phillips belongs to the Woodmen at the town of Mecca. 
Politically, he is a Republican. He has been very successful in a business 
way, and he owns a cozy home near IMecca and thirty acres of excellent 
farming land in Wabash township,- about one-half of which is in condition to 
be tilled advantageously. 



CHARLES A. Ll\'ENGOOD. 

The subject of this sketch has succeeded in life because he has, in the first 
place, never been afraid of hard work, and also because he has done his work 
well, and has at the same time so conducted himself as to earn a reputation for 
good citizenship and fair dealings with his fellow men. 

Charles A. Livengood, well known blacksmith and farmer of Greene 
township, Parke county, Nvas born in Montgomery county, Indiana, June 28, 
1858. and he is a son of John P. and Christena ( Sappenfreld) Livengood. 
The father was born in 181Q in North Carolina, from which state he removed 
to Indiana when a boy and lived here till his death, which occurred on October 
6, 1859. The mother of the subject was born on November 20, 1827, in the 
same county in North Carolina as- was her husband, and she. too. came to 
Indiana in her youth, and they were married in the latter state and here 
spent the rest of their lives. Her death occurred on March 11. 1889. John 



PARKE AM) \•|■■.U^rU.I.IO^■. COl'NTIES. INDIANA. 693 

P. Livengood liad cjuly a limited ctlucation, Imt he was a sludciu all his life 
and by nature a fine peninan. Ilu was a preacher in the Lutheran church 
and did a great amount of good among the early settlers here. To these 
parents two children were horn, Mary M., who married J. Ettcr, a farmer, 
and they live in Montgomery county, Indiana, and Charles A., of this sketch. 

Charles A. Livengood received a common school education, and on 
December 22, 1887, he was married to Mary Stark, who was born on October 
24, 1858, in Parke county, this state, and here she grew to womanhood and 
received a good common school education. She is a daughter of John and 
Elizabeth ( Connelley ) Stark. To this union four children have been born, 
namely: Jessie L, who is teaching school in Greene township: John A\'. is at 
home: David C. and Hazel. 

Mr. Livengood has al\\a\s followed farming, and he is the owner of a 
small farm in Greene township, on which he resides. But blacksmithing has 
been his chief life work, he hax^ing conducted a shop near his home here for 
a period of twenty-one years, always having an excellent patronage from the 
surrounding country, for his superior skill in his chosen calling has w'on him a 
wide reputation, and not only high grade, but i)roni])t, work has ever been 
his aim. 

Mr. Livengood is a Democrat, and he was elected township trustee in 
Greene township in igo8 and is still discharging the duties of this ofifice in a 
manner that reflects much credit upon his ability and to the entire .satisfaction 
of all concerned. Fraternally, he is a memlxM- of the Modern Woodmen at 
Tudson, Indiana. He is a member of the Lutheran church. 



WILLIAM LANNING. 

It is gratifying to note that so many of the enterprising men of Greene 
township, Parke county, are natixe sons. Many communities lose their best 
blood by not being able to offer sufficient inducements to keep it at home, but 
in this respect Greene township has been fortunate, for nature has been lavish 
in her favors here and the young men of this locality ha\e been able to see 
successful futures for them.selves right here at home, conseeiuently they have 
not been lured away by the beckoning of the wanderlust spirit into unknown, 
uncertain and precarious fields, for the yotith is always at more or less 
disadvantage when he leaves his native heath and takes up his lot among 
strangers in a strange land. 

Among the local young men who have been contented to spend their lives 



694 PARKE AXD XERMIIJ.IOX ColXTIES, IXDIAXA. 

at home is William Larming, who was born on July 7, 1877, in Greene town- 
ship, Parke county, Indiana, the son of William E. and Eliza (Mottem) 
Lanning. The father w as born in this county, on the old home place in this 
township, the Lanning family ha\ing been among the early pioneers here and 
they ha\'e been well known and intiuential in Greene township from that 
early da_\- to the present time. The mother was born in Adams township, 
near New Discovery church, and she is still li\ing on tlie old Lanning home- 
stead, but the father was called to his eternal rest on August 12, 1912, after a 
successful and honorable life as a general farmer here. His family consisted 
of five children, two of whom are still living, namely: William, of this re- 
view; John, Sarah Catherine and Xichols Lee are all deceased: Charles W. is 
the }'Oungest child. 

William Lanning grew to manhood on ihe home farm and there he 
worked when a boy during the crop seasons, and he recei\ed a good education 
in tlie common schools. On November 30, 191 1, he was united in marriage 
to Nellie Settles, who was born on December 12, 1881. in Washington town- 
ship, Parke county, Indiana. Here she grew to womanhood, was educated 
in the common schools and the State Normal School, graduating from the 
latter institution in 1910. She taught school in Greene township awhile. She 
is a daughter of William F. Settles, who was born on April 2, 1849, '" Ken- 
tucky, and who, upon reaching manhood, married Emma Dickon, who was 
born in Indiana on August 3, 1861. 

Mr. Lanning has always followed farming and each succeeding year has 
found him farther advanced than the preceding, and as a general farmer and 
stock raiser he ranks high with his neighbors in the same lines of endeavor. 
Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order at Judson and the Knights 
of Pythias at Bellmore. Politically, he is a Democrat, but he has never been 
especially acti\'e in public affairs. 



ALBERT WHEAT. 



The name of Albert Wheat, cashier of the Ogara Coal Company, is well 
known to the people of Parke county, for here he has spent the major part 
of his active, honorable, public-spirited and well ordered life, being a scion 
of one of our most influential old families, members of which have done much 
toward the permanent good of the comnnmit\'. so the name should be repre- 
sented in this work. 

Mr. Wheat was born on July 2^. 1863, in Roseville, Parke county. In- 



TARKE AND \EK.MILL1UX COLXTIES, iXinAXA. 695 

diana, and is a son of Edward L. and Margaret (Nail) Wiieal. The father 
was born on January i6, 1833. in Washington, D. C. and his death occurred 
in -March, }i)o(). The mother was l^orn in J 845 in Indiana and iier death 
occurred on March 19, 1877. Edward E. Wheat came to Roseville. Indiana, 
w hen a young man and there engaged in merchandising for some time, de\ot- 
ing his later hfe to agricultural pursuits, and he here became very comfortably 
established through his industry. His family consisted of twelve children, 
six of whiim are still living. 

Albert Wheat grew to manhood in Roseville and received his education 
in the jjublic sclujols and in the State Normal School at Terre Haute. On 
April 30. 1885, he was united in marriage to Margaret Neilson. who was born 
on March 7, 1863, in Edinburgh, Scotland, from which cmmtry she was 
Ijrought to the.L'nited States when fi\e years old by her parents. Robert Xeil- 
son and wife. Thus she grew to womanhood and was educated in this coun- 
try. Six children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: Edna E.. 
who married Fay Calvert, and they live in Clinton, Indiana ; Clarence S. is 
deceased ; Lawrence is with the La\in Brothers' wholesale house, in Terre 
Haute: Ernest .\. is deceased: Mabel M. ami Ruth 1). are both at home. 

Mr. Wheat started in life as a merchant. ;issisting his father in the store 
at Roseville, also working on his father's farm some, .\fter leaving the State 
Normal School he engaged in merchandising in the town of Mecca on his own 
account for a period of about nine years, during which time he got an e.xcel- 
lent start, then sold out in i(>oi antl went to Indianapolis, where he engaged in 
the sand and graxel business on White river, remaining there about one year, 
then accepted a position with a fuel concern in Chicago, with which he re- 
mained, .giving eminent satisfaction, until alxiut 1906. when the firm with 
which he was connected sold out. Later the subject became manager of the 
Hyland Coal Company, of Ohio, remaining in that capacity with his usual 
success for about a )car ami a half, then returned to Terre Haute and took a 
position with the .\. Crafe Company, wholesale grocers, as assistant book- 
keeper. Resigning there, he took a position on the road, traveling for about 
three vears, .selling advertising specialties out of Iowa City for awhile, then 
resigned and accepted a position with the Canine Milling Company, at Clinton. 
Indiana, and after .selling flour for a while he resigned and was appointed 
de])ulv count\- auditor with James E. Elder in 191 1, which position he filled 
with credit until June 4, 191-', when he accepted a position as cashier with fhe 
Ogara Coal Cumpanv. of Cliicago. which operates in Wabash townshi]), Parke 
count\-. and be is still in this work, giving his usual high grade and conscien- 
tious service. Mr. Wheat has an interest in a good farm in Parke county. 
Politicallv he is a Democrat, and he attends the Methodist Episcopal church. 



696 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

CHARLES p. WALKER. 

Self assertion is belie\"ed by many people to be absolutely necessary to 
success in life, and there are good reasons for the entertainment of such a 
belief. The modest man very rarely gets what is due him. The selfish, 
aggressive man elbows his way to the front, takes all that is in sight, and it 
sometimes seems thai modesty is a sin, with self-denial the penalty. There 
are, however, exceptions to all rules and it is a matter greatly to be regretted 
that the exceptions to the conditions referred to are not more numerous. 
One notable exception is the case of Charles P. Walker, general manager for 
the William E. Dee Clay Manufacturing Company, of Chicago, with interests 
in Wabash township. Parke county, Indiana, where the subject has long 
resided. 

Mr. Walker was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 22. 1849, ''"'^ '^ ^ 
son of Christopher and Rachael Elizabeth ( Wiltsey) Walker. The father 
was born on May 4, 1812, in Ohio, and his death occurred on Januarv 14, 
1869. The mother was born in Pennsylvania in 1820 and here death oc- 
curred in 1857. Christopher Walker was a merchant in Cincinnati, also 
engaged in railroading for awhile. His family consisted of eight children, 
six of whom are still living. 

Charles P. Walker was educated in the common schools. On October 
15, 1873, he married Jeanie A. Sammis, who was born on April 8, 1851, in 
Erooklyn, New York, and she received a conuuon school education. To the 
subject and wife six children were born, four of whom are still living, namely : 
Rachael is deceased ; Antoinette married Charles Steward, who is deceased, 
and she is living in New York : Geniva H. married Charles H. Hughes and 
they live in Michigan; Fanny Frances is deceased; Charles P., Jr., married 
Annett Cutler, and they live in Maywood, Illinois ; Jeanie A. married Samuel 
Cutler, and they also live in Maywood, Illinois. 

Mr. Walker started in life for himself as office boy with a railroad com- 
pany, then became cashier in the employ of the Chicago & Great Eastern 
Railroad Company, later paymaster. He gave entire satisfaction in all the^ 
capacities in which he was placed while railroading, but finally, tiring of that 
field of endeavor, he w ent into the coal business at Clinton, Indiana, in which 
he remained with ever-increasing success for a period of twenty-five years, 
during which time he organized the Norton Creek Coal & Mining Company, 
of which he was general manager and which he made a great success through 
his energy and business sagacity. He eventually became general manager 
for the William E. Dee Clay Manufacturing Company, of Chicago, and Mr. 



I'AKKE AXU \'KR.MIL1,I0.\ COL.NTIES, I.XDIA.NA. 69/ 

Walker has been looking after the interests of this company in Wabash tow n- 
ship. Parke county, ever since it was organized, thirteen years ago, his long 
retention in this responsible post being criterion enough of his high grade 
and faithful service. The output here is aljout ten cars per day, including 
sewer pipe, tiling, wall coping, culvert pipe, well tubing, fire-proofing, flue 
lining, chimney tops, fire brick, fire clay, hollow brick, terra cotta and others, 
and their products are of such high grade and up-to-date pattern that there 
is a very ready market for them. .Vbout one hundred and eighty men arc 
employed in this plant, which is the largest of its kind west of Akron. Ohio. 
Mr. Walker is a Democrat, but has never been active in public affairs. 
Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order at Clinton. 



DR. EVERETT MORTON lAANS. 

One of tlie best known and highlv esteemed jirufessional men of Parke 
county. Indiana, is Dr. Everett Mortem E\ans, of the village of Mecca, who 
has long been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession and who 
ranks with the leading citizens of his community in every respect, being not 
only highly skilled in his chosen calling, but also public spirited and of high 
ideals. ad\ocating !ionest\' in both i)ri\ate and public life, so that he has ever 
enjoyed the confidence and good will of the people. 

Dr. Evans was born on October 27. 1864, in Camden, Indiana, and he 
is a son of George D. and Sarah (Reynold ) Evans. The father was born on 
May 30, 1830 in Brown county, Ohio, from which state he came with his 
parents to Indiana when he was four years old and here he grew to manhood, 
was educated, married and spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 
1904. The mother of the subject was born on April 15, 1837 in this .state, 
and her death occurred in 1903. George D. Evans dexoted his life to con- 
tracting, in which he was very successful. His family consisted of seven 
children, all still living but one. 

Dr. Evans received his primary education in the public schools, and 
Terre Haute high school, from which he graduated in 1885. Leaving that 
institution, he began preparing himself for his chosen calling and. with that 
end in \iew. he went to Cincinnati. Ohio, where he entered Puhe College, 
in which he made a splendid record and from which institution he was 
graduated in 1895. Soon afterward he returned to his native state and 
began the pr.-.ctice of his profession at Mecca. Parke county, and has since 
the dav he opened his office. October 17. 1805. enjoyed an ever-increasing 



698 PARKE AND VERMII.LIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and Ir.cralive practice, which i? still growing. He has met with great suc- 
cess and his patients, many of them, come from remote parts of the county. 
He has remained a close student of all that pertains to his \'ocation and has 
kept fully abreast of the times. 

Dr. Evans was married on April 4, 1886, to Sidney B. Stephens, who 
was born on April 6, 1877. in Putnam county, Indiana; there she grew to 
womanhood and recei\ed a common school education and also attended high 
school. She is a daughter of C. Stephens and wife. The union of the sub- 
ject and wife has been without issue. 

Fraternally, Dr. Evans belongs to the Masonic order at Montezuma, the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Wood- 
men at Mecca, and he stands high in fraternal circles here. The Doctor has 
been very successful in a business way and he owns a commodious home and 
a modernly equipped office, also several valuable rental properties in Mecca. 



DEE THOMPSON. 



The proprietor of the general store in any community is always found 
to be one of the most influential of its citizens. He comes into contact with 
all phases of life, has to meet every problem which comes to the public at 
large, and his place of business is the center of the commercial life of the 
place. Dee Thompson, at Grange Corner, Sugar Creek township, Parke 
county, Indiana, is riO' exception to the rule. He is not only a man of influence 
because of his position in Sugar Creek township, but is prominent in all the 
activities of the place and well know n for his honesty and integrity. 

Dee Thompson is the son of Joseph i\. and n(.rinda ( Pickard ) Thomp- 
son. The father is a native of Parke county, Indiana, being" born here on 
February 3, 1849, his mother being born in the same county on May 2j, 1851. 
They attended the common schools, and after they were married went on 
the farm, where Joseph R. Thompson was very successful. He has retired 
from active work now, and he and his wife are still living in Parke count}-. 
They had six children, four of whom are still living. Dee Thompson was 
born November \2. 1879. in Sugar Creek township, Parke county. Indiana. 
He lived on the farm, working during his school vacations, and, having 
finished school at the age of eighteen, commenced teaching. 

On April 23, 1905, Mr. Thompson married Nellie Harrison, wdio was 
also a natixe of Sugar Creek township. Parke county. Indiana. Her father 
was George Harrison and her mother was Margaret ( Rankin) Harrison, who 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COLNTIES, INDIANA. OyQ 

was bom in Scotland. Mr. Thompson continued teacliing until lie was 
twenty-seven years of age. during which time he spent all of his free time 
farming, but in 1908 he went into the general mercantile business at Grange 
Corner, Sugar Creek township, L'arke county, and he has l)een very success- 
ful there. He has been energetic and progressi\e in his management of Iiis 
store, and his fair treatment of everyone, together with his interest in all 
the affairs of the community, ha\e made him verv popular. He has a gotjd 
store, and is one of the most reliable and able of the citizens of Sugar Creek 
townshi]). 

Mr. Thonijison has been active in the political as well as the social life 
of his home, and is a Republican by conviction. He is also identified with the 
Modern Woodmen of America, at Marshall. Indiana. .\s one of the \ounger 
and most I'eliable men of his section of the country, Mr. TJiompson will 
undoubtedly hold his place among the men whose lives have counted for the 
good of Parke county. 



JUEL A. DELP. 



It is indeed a problem when we see the young men going to the ciiies 
to find their life work in manufacturing and mercantile pursuits, shutting 
their eyes to the opportunities that now. more than ever lx;fore. await the 
young farmer. It is true that conditions often show now-a-days that life for 
a family in general is easier in the city than on the farm, but gradually these 
unattractive elements are being eliminated fnmi f;iiiii life, and it would be 
well to look at the success of some of the young farmers of Indiana and see 
how their efforts have been abundantly rewarded. A good exam])le of the 
prosperous young farmer is Juel .\. Delp, near Mar.>;hall, Indiana, wlm is 
alreadv one of the most prominent men in his communitx-. He is popular in 
Parke countv. and has Established himself as a reliable citizen ,ind ;i man of 
highest honesty and integrity. 

Juel .\. Del]) is the son of Luther and .Mary (Stares) Del]), iiis fatlier 
was a native of Parke county. Indiana, and died there .Xjiril 0. i<)i2. His 
mother was born in Fountain cnuntw Indiana, and is still living. They were 
farmers and were highly respected in Parke county, where they made their 
home. They had only one child. Juel A. Delp. who was born .\ugust 15. 
1880, in Sugar Creek township. Parke county. Indiana. His early life was 
spent on the farm, learning the best ways of managing crops, and learning 
b\ jiractical experience the lessons tiiat have been of so much benefit to him 



/OO PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

since. He attended the common schools and the high school, and after 
graduating turned his attention immediately to farming. 

On December 19, 1902, Mr. Delp married Leona Dotson, the daughter 
of Joseph and Jula (Barker) Dotson. She was born December 9, 1885, in 
Parke count}-, Indiana, and was educated in the common schools of that 
district. They have three children, Ruin- and Doris, and Hubert, who is at 
home. Air. Delp now has four hundred and fifty-six acres of some of the 
best land in Sugar Creek township, Parke county, Indiana, and has brought 
it to a high state of cultivation himself. He has built his home on the place, 
and the farm, its equipment and condition, and his modern home, are a monu- 
ment to his industry and forethought. 

Politically speaking, Mr. Delp has always been an ardent Republican. In 
1908 he was made township trustee and still holds that position, as he has 
gained the confidence of his friends and neighbors by his careful attention 
to business, his honesty and integrity, and his good serx'ice. Mr. Delp has 
been very successful and as he has won his way already to a place of promi- 
nence in Parke county, his services will probably meet with an abundant re- 
ward. It is such men as Mr. Delp who, in the midst of the multitudinous 
duties whicli constantly surround the farnier, can find the time to give to 
public affairs and time to think and express themselves on all the large issues 
of the day : it is such men to whom America must look for her prosperitv. 



IRA HOBSON. 



The West has always drawn the young antl enterprising men of the 
East, with her promise of a new country, equal opportunities, and a fair 
reward, and, therefore, the first and second generations in a new country 
are always marked by their progress and unceasing work in the upbuilding 
of the district. When the father of Ira Hobson came to Indiana as a 
young man he selected a growing country, and buth he and his sons have 
contributed a large share in forwarding its growth to the present state of 
prosperity. 

.\aron Hobson was born in North Carolina in 1810. coming to the 
state of Indiana with his parents. Isaac Hobson, Sr.. and .\my Marshall 
Hobson. in 1830, when he was a }oung n-ian. He lived with his parents 
until his marriage to Polly Newlin in 1834, She was the daughter of 
Joshua and .\chsah Newlin. The Newlins migrated to Indiana about the 



I"ARKK AND NI'IK.M II.I.IOX COIXTIKS. INDIANA. 70I 

same time as did the HoIdsoiis. His chosen companion aided him greatly 
in bnilding a home in the New West. They commenced farming- and 
lived here in Parke county, Liberty township, until death claimed them, 
Mr. Hobson in 1845, ^"cl his wife in 1S51. Thcv had >c\ eu children namely: 
Newton, Matilda. Joshua, Ira, Isaac, Ach-ah and l);ivi(l, all i<\ whom 
departed this life while they were young, with the e\ce])tion of ha, who 
was lx)rn in Liberty township, Parke county, Indiana, June 26. 183S. He 
spent his youth on the f;irm, attending the common schndls. and learning 
many valuable lessons regarding agriculture, which he had ample opjjortunity 
to put into practice. He was married December 22. [861. to Live Xewlin. 
the daughter of Nathan and Sarah Newlin. She was burn January 14. iS.vS. 
and was also a nati\-e of Parke county, Indiana. She was educated in the 
common s'chools of that county. To this union were born eight children. 
three of whom are still living. Jimmie L., Henry and Hermon. Milton A. 
and Melvin departed this life while they were cjuite young, Octa\ia S. was 
born the Qth of March, 1863; she was married to Charles Ratcliffe in the 
year 1882, and now lives near DeWitt, Arkansas. Martha C. was born 
February 13, 1873; she was married to Perl Printy, .May 24, 1891. and now 
lives in Warren county, Indiana, near Danville. Illinois. Love was Ijorn 
July 13, 1876, and was married to Artie Hobson in the \ear 1894. and is 
now li\-ing on his farm near his father's. 

Ira Hobson. Sr., has devoted his life to his family and his farm. When 
he was a young man he taught school for a while, but later he turned his 
entire attention to his farm; at which time he owned one hundred and tifty 
acres of land. He has now seventy- four acres, all in fine tillable soil. He 
has taken excellent care of his land, and has received his reward in fine crops 
and extensive production. He has brought his land to a high state of culti- 
vation and it is now well tilled. 

Mr. Hobson has always been a prominent man in his community, as he 
is a man of high mental ability, and his honesty and integrity in any position 
of tru.st is un(|Ucs(ioned. lie i^ a Republican, and in i87() he was elected 
to the position of township trustee, in Liberty township, in which capacity 
he served for four years. Ira Hobson is still active on his farm and in the 
affairs of his county. He has seen Parke county grow in importance, and 
has helped to settle all of the questions of importance which his community 
has had to face for the last half century. Lie is respected l)y all his friends 
and neighbors, as a man of sober judgment and sagacity in all affairs which 
affect the communitv as a whole, or any individual in it who may seek his 
ad\ice. 



702 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

S. G. LINDLEY. 

If one judges a doctrine by the lives of those identified with it, and 
tests the efficiency of a church by the works of its members, the Quaker or 
Friends' churcii in Indiana must be highly esteemed and universal respect 
given its members. The kindliness of their spirit and the strict honesty and 
integrity everywhere observed among them, lia\e made them some of the 
most valuable citizens of the state, and we find them in positions of trust 
everywhere. The life of S. G. Lindley is a monument to his church, and he 
has long been regarded as one of the most prominent citizens of Parke county. 

Stephen G. Lindley is the son of Hiram and Hannah ( W'oody ) Lindley. 
His father was born September 4, 1842, in Liberty township. Parke county, 
and is still living. His mother was born November 11, 1863. and is also a 
native of Liberty township, Parke county, Indiana. Hiram Lindley has for 
years been one of the most prominent farmers in that district and he is still 
active in his work. The\- had nine children, fi\-e of whom are still li\-ing. 
Stephen G. Lindley was born November 24. 1869. in the same location where 
his parents were born and raised. During his early life he attended the com- 
mon schools of that county, and later attended high school. Together with 
his school education. 'Sir. Lindley gained a great deal of valuable information, 
about farming during his boyhood days, but after graduating he turned his 
attention to the trade of a carpenter. 

Mr. Lindley was married April 28. 1895. to Icy Pickard, the daughter 
of John S. and Rosebelle ( Wilknis) Pickard (Whose biographies will also 
be found in this work). She was born lanuarv 31, 1870, in Sugar Creek 
township, Parke county, Indiana. The}- have one daughter, Dora, who is in 
college. 

After his marriage Stephen G. Lindley gave up his carpenter work and 
ran a lilacksmith's shop. He soon left tliis. however, and went to farming, 
and he has been very successful on his farm. He owns forty acres of land, all 
of which is tillable. There are manv im])rovements on the place, and it is one 
of the best equipped farms in that part of the country. Mr. Lindley having 
made all the improvements himself. Mr. Lindley has found the time in the 
midst of his arduous duties on the farm to take an interest in a number of 
affairs outside his immediate \icinity. He is a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd I'ellows at Tangier, as well as the Knights of Pythias at King- 
man. Indiana. The family belongs to the Friends church, and Mr. Lindley 
has been a faithful worker in this church for years. So well is he thought of 
in his communitx'. and respected as a man of the highest integritx' and standards 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 703 

that the people have often depended on his jiidginenl in local affairs. Mr. 
Lindley is a Democrat and was elected u> ihe office of township trustee in 
1908. which position he still liolds. ll is such men as Mr. I.indlev who 
lea\e a marked iin|.M-ession on the ]ien])le with whom thev associate, and 
whose int^uence in their community lives long after thev are no longer 
with us personally. 



M. HUDSON NE.AL. • 

The coal mines in \*ermillion countw Indiana, are a great source of 
income to that section of the state, and in them are employed some of the 
finest men in Indiana. The ordinary picture of the miner should not present 
itself when we think of these mines. They are not among the smokv fiat 
topped mountains of Penns\hania. nor near the proverhially dirtv cit\' of 
Pittshurgh, but lie in the midst of a beautiful green agricultural district in 
Indiana and offer opportunities for some brilliant accomplishments in engi- 
neering. Among the workers in these mines is Hudson Xeal. who has been 
interested in them all his life, being raised in this district. 

Mr. Neal was born in Clay county, Indiana. July 6, iSSd. His father 
is W. T. Neal, who has spent his life around the mines, lie was born in 
1864. and is still li\'ing in Hymera, Indiana. He married b.lla I'hrist, who 
■was born in Indiana in 1866. The\ recei\'ed common school education when 
they were young, and their nine children had the same advantages. The 
father being interested in the mines, it was a natural attraction and ambition 
for the children, and Hudson has spent his time perfecting hini.self in an 
engineer's work there. He is a single man and has gi\en a great deal of 
lime and thought to his work. Mr. Neal has been a miner for sixteen years, 
but has only recently been at his present location in The Deering Company 
mine No. 2. liaving come here April 2. 1909. He has improved the work 
at the mines in a great many ways since he has been occupied there, and his 
careful attention to his work and his thorough knowledge of it ha\e made 
him iinaluable to his employers. 

Mr. Neal is a voung man of sterling qualities ami is highly respected 
in his neigh lx)rhood. He is a Mason at Clinton, Indiana, and is a Republican 
by political convictions. He is a man of energy and his influence is strongly 
felt in his vicinity. It is men like Mr. Neal, who form the backbone of a 
communitx and keep it abreast with the best things that the age oft'ers. 



704 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

J. CARL RUTTER. 

The present able and popular county recorder of Parke county has spent 
his entire hfe in this locality and he has always had deeply at heart the well 
being and improvement of the county, using his influence whenever possible 
for the promotion of enterprises calculated to be of lasting benefit to his 
fellow men, besides taking a leading part in all movements for the advance- 
ment of the community along material, social, educational and moral lines. 
For a number of years he ranked as one of the successful and prominent 
educators of Parke county, having taken an abiding interest in educational 
affairs and done much to advance the same in this locality. 

Mr. Rutter was born in Raccoon township, Parke county, Indiana, May 
9, 1878. He is the son of David M. and Sarah Jane (Elson) Rutter, the 
father having been born in Ohio, from which state he came to Parke county, 
Indiana, at an early date and here became a substantial and influential citizen. 

David Merriman Rutter was born at Carrolton, Carroll county, Ohio, 
October 13, 1837, and died at the home of Charles and Emma Rutter, April 
19, 1912. He was a son of Joseph Rutter. a Methodist minister, and Mary 
(Bacum) Rutter, both of whom passed the greater part of their lives in 
Ohio. David M. was the last surviving of a family of ten children. He. like 
many another young man, caught the spirit of the "go \\"est"' movement and 
came to Indiana in the spring of 1864, which ever since was his home. He 
was married April 9, 1868, to Sarah Jane Elson, daughter of Hense and 
Elizabeth Elson. To their home were born seven children, viz. : Josie 
Alice Chapman. E\'a Grace Bowman, William Elson. Charles Bacum, Joseph 
Carl. Arthur Earl, and Sylvia Floss, all of whom are living except Eva Grace 
Bowman and Arthur Earl. The wife and mother died August 12. 1902. 
David Rutter taught school at Carrollton, Ohio, and for many years in Parke 
county, Indiana, and there are many who can testify to his good influence as 
a teacher. He was a good and praiseworthy man. Mr. Rutter was a well- 
informed member of Bridgeton Eodge No. 169, Free and Accepted Masons. 
He Avas a devout Christian, having united with the Salem Methodist Episco- 
pal church in 1888, though at the time of his death he was a member of the 
church at Bridgeton. 

T. Carl Rutter was reared on the home farm, where he assisted with the 
general work when of proper age. and received his primary education in 
the rural schools of his neighborhod and in the Indiana State Normal School 




J. CARL RUTTER. 



PARKE A.\D VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 705 

at Terre Haute, where he made a good record. Thus well equipped for his 
life work, he began by teaching school, which he followed with uninterrupted 
success in Parke county for several years, giving eminent satisfaction to both 
pupil and patron, his services being in great demand. Taking an interest in 
public affairs, he was elected county recorder in 1906, and took oflice Janu- 
ary I, 1907, serving four years with such eminent satisfaction that he was re- 
elected in the fall of 1910 on the Republican ticket and is now discharging 
the duties of the same with fidelity and credit to himself ; in fact, he is re- 
garded as one of the best county officers Parke has ever had. lie lias lung 
been active in his party and influential in its counsels, and at the present 
time he is serving as chairman of the Republican county central committee, 
and is doing much to keep the principles of his party to the forefront in this 
locality. 

Mr. Rutter was married on June 26, 1907. to Maude Seller, daughter 
of Benjamin F. Seller, of Bridgeton, this county. To this union two daugh- 
ters have been born, Dorothy Dale and Rozelle. 

Fraternally, Mr. Rutter is a member of the Knights of Pythias at 
Bridgeton, also the Masons at that place. He and his wife are worthy mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and both stand high in the circles in 
which thev move. 



HARRY T,. I,OWE. 



Among the progressive citizens of Clinton. Vermillion county, who have 
been active in promoting the business and civil interests of that district, is 
Harry L. Lowe, a Hoosier by birth and affections. He has given much of 
his time and attention to public enterprises, and by his sterling integrity and 
unquestioned honesty has won the confidence of his friends and neighbors. 

Harry L. Lowe is the son of George and Alice (Brichelles) Low^e. 
George Lowe was born in Indiana, near Perrysville, in 1844, and died in 
August, 191 1. He was a lumberman and reaped the benefits of the progress 
made in that line of business in the years when the state of Indiana was 
young. He married Alice Brichelles, a native of Michigan, who did not 
ii\e to see this centurv. They both had common school educations and were 
modest, honest, reliable people. After the deatli of his first wife Mr. Lowe 
married again, and had two more boys, Harry being the son of his first 
wife. 

(45) 



yoG PARKE AND VER.MILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Harry L. Lowe was b'orn in Indiana, November ii, 1878. He finished 
the common schools \-ery creditably and later attended Valparaiso University. 
In school he excelled in mathematics and science, and after gradnation he 
accepted a position as teacher of these two subjects in the high school at 
Clinton, Indiana, remaining identified with this school for three years. On 
April 15. 1902, he married Edna Cossey, who was born in Indiana on 
iSIovemher 10, 1883. and received the common school education which the 
state provides for all. Thev ha\'e one child, Tom, who was born Februarv 
9, 1906. 

After he finished his teaching in the high school at Clinton, Air. Lowe 
turned his attention to the coal business. He accepted the position of pay- 
roll clerk in the office of the Clinton Coal Company in 1908 and, having 
familiarized himself with the work in the ofifice. in a short time went to the 
mine to acquaint himself with the first step of the businc.-s. He holds the 
position of top boss at these mines at the present time. 

Mr. Lowe is a member of several lodges, among which are the Masonic 
lodge at Perrysville. and the Knights of Pythias at Clinton, Indiana. His 
familv are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are highly re- 
spected in their community. His influence is always thrown to all progres- 
si\'e measures, and he has realized that the greatest mmements come through 
individual effort to arouse interest in those by whom they are personally 
surrounded. The influence of such a man may be compared to the wave 
caused by a ship in a large body of water — it goes on forever. 



TAMES ASHMORE. 



The mines in Vermillion county. Indiana, form one interest in that 
district which holds the people together, and in these coal mines are some of 
the most substantial men in the community. James Ashmore came there 
four vears ago. and in that time he has worked his way to a place of promi- 
nence in the mines and has established himself as a highly respected citizen 
in that locality. 

Mr. Ashmore is the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Clifton) Ashmore. 
His father was born in Ridge Farm, Illinois, March 17. 1840. and his mother 
was born Mav 16, 1832. and was also a native of Illinois. They received 
ordinarv educations and lived on the farm in that state all of their lives. 
Mr. Ashmore dying Februaiy 7. 1903. and his wife February 13, 1908. 
Thev had seven children, all of whom are living. 



PARKE AXIJ \'KRiMI1.1.10X COriNTIKS, INDIANA. 



707 



James Ashniore \v;is born March ih, 1887, on llic f;irm lu-ar Ridge 
Farm, Illinois. He spent his early life in that place, receiving a common 
school education and working upon the farm during \acations. March 2, 
1907, he was married to Vermida Cannady, of Dana. Indiana, the daughter 
of Jones Cannady, a prominent farmer in that region. After graduating 
from the grade schools, she attended high school for four years. She was 
born March i, 1889. James Ashmore and his wife have had two children. 
Ralph, born May 20, 1908, and Russell, born August t6, 1911. 

After finishing school. James Ashmore farmed a few years, hut. tiring 
of farm life soon, and longing to get into the outside world, he went on the 
railroad. He soon took a position as bookkeeper in Illinois and later fired 
on the railroad for two years. After this experience he found work on the 
railroad to he unsatisfactory and went back lo the farm for three vears. 
Mr. Ashmore now realizes that he could never be contented on the farm and 
when he heard of an opening in a brick yard he worked there for three years. 
During all this time he was gathering a \er\- \ aluable education in connec- 
tion with the men with whom he worked, and he was able when he took the 
position in the mines in 1908 to work so successfull\- with the men that he is 
now top boss at Crownhill mine Xo. 2. He has always done top work at 
the mines and has met with great success in ibis work. 

Mr. Ashmore is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, be- 
longing to Camp No. 1205 at Clinton, Indiana. He has taken an active 
part in all of the affairs of this communitx during the time he has lived here, 
and is a Republican, politically speaking. Mr. Ashmore is an enterjirising 
and active young man. and his influence is felt, not only at the mines, but in 
the whole district. 



MORG.\N PUFFER. 



\^ermillion county is characterized by her full share of the honored and 
faithful element who have done so much for its develoinnent and upbuilding 
and the establishing of the institutions of civilization in this fertile and well 
favored .section. In this work are comprised m.iuy biographical and memorial 
sketches of this class of citizens and it is not in the least too early to record 
in print the principal items in the lives of such honest pen])le. giving honor 
to whom honor is due. Among this numlier is the Puffer family, of whom 
Morgan Puffer is the only survivor of the well known name. He is one of 
the best known and progressive agriculturists in Helt township. He is a 



708 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

descendant of a worthy pioneer citizen of this locaHty, who spent his hfe 
and did much toward the general progress of the county along material, civic 
and moral lines. 

Alorgan Puffer was born in Helt township, A'ermillion county, Indiana. 
December 26, 1846, and is the son of Reuben and Harriet (Depuy) Puffer. 
His father was a native of Massachusetts, coming to Vermillion county when 
a boy of thirteen. He came with his grandparents. Elisha and Hannah Mack, 
both old people and with limited means. The journey to Indiana was before 
the time of railroads. It began on December i. 1837. The con\eyance for 
the first two hundred miles was a one-horse sleigh. When the snow melted 
this was traded for a one-horse wagon, in which they came to Olenna, on the 
.\lleghenv river above Pittsburgh. The grandmother was there taken ill 
with lung fever and the journey was delayed for six weeks. The horse and 
wagon were traded for some money and a quantity of cloth. With the cloth 
as their stored treasure, they engaged passage on a raft on the .Mlegheny 
river and went to Pittsburgh : thence they went to Cincinnati on a larger 
raft, the same being two lashed together. At Cincinnati they engaged pas- 
sage down the Ohio river and to Clinton on a steamboat and from Clinton 
to his first Indiana home on Hiddle's prairie. Reuben Puffer was a farmer 
all his life. In politics he was a Democrat, but was not a public man and 
never held ofifice. His mother was the daughter of one of the pioneer set- 
tlers, the Depuys being well known for several generations. She received 
her education and grew to womanhood in this vicinity. She was united in 
marriage to Reuben Puffer in March, 1845, ^'^^ to them two children were 
bom. 

Morgan Puffer, the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood on the 
homestead in Helt township. There be assisted with the general work 
during the summer months, and in winter attended the district schools. 
Early in life he took up farming and this has been his vocation ever since. 
He has been content to remain in his native township: here he has met with 
success bevond the average tiller of the soil. He is the owner of one of the 
choice and productive farms of the county, consisting of four hundred and 
fifty-five acres, which he has brought up to a high state of improvement and 
cultivation and which he has managed so as to bring him in a handsome 
competency. His dwelling is one of the most commodious and attractive in 
Helt township. 

Mr. Puffer was married in 1875 to Susan ^^'halen, daughter of Patrick 
and Alraire (Lightfoot) Whalen. She was a native of Illinois, but her peo- 
ple were natives of Kentucky, moving to Edgar county, Illinois, in the early 



PARKK. AND VERMILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 709 

tliirties. To this union two cliildrcn were born. Rrnest, who died in 1900, 
and Mabel, who married Stanwood Martin (now deceased), and lives at 
home with her parents. She has one child, Robert Puffer IMartin. 

Religiously, Mr. Puffer is a Baptist. 

Mr. Puffer's one great hobby is the accumulation of old relics, consist- 
ing of old farm tools, old guns. Indian relics, etc. He has one of the largest 
collections of anyone in the countv, especialh' old guns. 



JOSEPH D. ADAMS. 



It is both gratifying and profitable to enter record concerning such a 
man as he whose name initiates this biographical review, and in the follow- 
ing outline sufficient will be said to indicate the forceful individuality, initia- 
tive power and sterling character which have had such a decided influence in 
making their possessor a leader in an enterprise reipiiring the highest order 
of business talent, and to gain for him wide ])ublicity among tliose who shape 
and direct policies of more tlian ordinary conse(|uence. The ilominating 
spirit of self-help is what has conserved the distinctive business success and 
prestige of Air. Adams, who has for many years stood at the head of one of 
the leading industrial enterprises in the Middle West. .\t Indianapolis he has, 
from modest inception, built up one of the leading manufacturing establish- 
ments in a locality long noted for its commercial enterprise, and he controls a 
trade which ramifies throughout the Ignited States and even pervades many 
foreign countries, and he enjoys the high reputation which is ever significant 
of personal integritv and honorable methods. He is one of the worthiest native 
sons of the locality of which this volume treats, and is a scion of a i)rominent 
old pioneer family of Parke court). 

Joseph D. ,\dams, in\'entor. manufacturer, and president of the noted 
firm of T. D. Adams & Company, of Indianapolis. Indiana, was l)om on 
December 12, 1853. in Parke county. Indiana, and is a son of Harvey and 
Eliza (Caruthers) Adams. The father was born in Ohio, July 25. 1825, 
spendine bis bovhood years in his native state, but when a young man he 
removed to Indiana and established the family home in Parke count\-. where 
he de\oted his life successfully to general farming and stock rai.sing, and here 
his death occurred on .\pril 3. 1904. Politically he was a Republican, and 
while he was influential in local public affairs lie was not a jjolitician and led 
a quiet home life. The mother of the subject was born on November 4. 1826, 



"lO PARKE AXD VERMILLION' COUXTIES, IXDIANA. 

in Parke county, and lier deatli occurred June 13, i<;i2. Eight children 
were born to these parents, six of whom are still living, namely : John W. ; 
Mary Ott is deceased: Joseph D., nf this sketch; Airs. Emma I. Trublood ; 
Albert, who married a Miss Bullock ; Laura is deceased ; L. Alice married a 
Mr. Overman ; L. Edgar also married into the Overman family. 

Joseph D. Adams was reared on the liome farm and there made himself 
generally useful when he became of proper age. He received his primary 
education in the common schools of his locality and later attended the Bloom- 
ingdale Academy. He began life for himself as a farmer and school teacher 
and soon had a good start, but. being of an inventi\e turn of mind and hav- 
ing a decided bent toward industrial affairs, he gradually drifted into his 
present business in 1882. He originally designed and l)uilt the well known 
machines, "The Little Wonder Grader," "The Road King," "King Junior," 
"Giant Road King," and "'The Reclamation Ditcher." which have been sold 
in enormous numbers all over the country. The "Reclamation Ditcher" was 
so named because it was first used in the United States government in its 
vast reclamation works, with much success. Mr. Adams came to Indianapolis 
in 1887, and from that year until 1893 engaged in the manufacture of road 
machinery and bridge building, with a partner, under the firm name of Hunt 
&. Adams. The firm dissoKed partnership in 1893, and the subject estab- 
lished the firm of J. D. Adams & Company, under which he has continued w ith 
ever-growing success from that time to the present. He has had to enlarge 
his quarters from time to time and constantly add new machinery and equip- 
ment and emplov additional men, until he now has one of the largest, best 
equipped and superblv managed manufacturing plants in Indianapolis, e\ery- 
thing being managed under a splendid system, only skilled artisans being em- 
ployed and nothing but high grade work turned out. He built his present 
substantial and convenient factory in 1907. His products cover nearly all 
of the United States, especially the Mississippi river country, the Gulf and 
Pacific coast, and large consignments are sent to foreign countries. Owing 
to the superior qualit}- and honest workmanship of his products there has long 
been a very ready demand for them. 

Mr. Adams was married on April 13, 1876, to Anna Elder, who was 
born in April. 185 1. She is a lady of culture and refinement, and has long 
been a favorite with a vast circle of friends. She is a representative of one 
of the influential old families of Parke county, a complete sketch of whom 
will be found on another page of this volume, under the caption of James 
Elder, who is a brother of Mrs. Adams. The latter grew to womanhood in 



PARKE AXD VKKMILUON COLXTIICS, INDIANA. 7II 

her native comniunit)- and received her education in the puiMic schools and 
Blooniingdaie Academy. 

Three children have graced the union of the subject and wife, naniclv; 
Anna Laura, who was educated in the schools of Indianapolis, and at Del'auw 
University, at Greencastle, Indiana, married Edward Henry. She is now- 
deceased. Roy E. Adams was educated in Purdue Uni^■ersity at Lafayette, 
Lidiana ; he married Miss Leona Haywood, of Lafayette. Indiana, and lives 
at Xo. 3-'55 Washington Boulevard. Indianapolis, and he is in husiness with 
his father, as manager of the factorw William Ray Adams was also educated 
at Purdue University : he married Miss Helen Johnston, of Indianapolis, and 
they live at No. 3131 Washington Boulevard, Indianapolis: he, too. is in husi- 
ness with his father, as assistant manager. S. C. Trublood, brother-indaw 
of the subject, is treasurer of J. D. Adams & Company. 

Personall)', Mr. Adams is a gentleman of pleasing address. al\\a\s ob- 
liging, genial and an advocate of wholesome li\ing and clean politics. He 
is a tine tv]5e of the successful, self-made, honorable American of tlic twen- 
tieth century — alert, energetic, broad-minded, progressive. 



r. H. AlARK. 



The people of Idorida townshi]). Parke county, point to J. H. Mark as 
one of their most \aluable citizens, admiring him for lus skill as a farmer, his 
persevei^ing. industry and his high moral char;icter. for his life among them 
for sixty-two years^a.ll of his life — may well be likened to an open book. 
He made his advent into this world in pioneer days, and is a connecting link 
between that period and the ])resent, during which time he has lived to see 
and take part in the great changes that have occurred here. 

Mr Mark was born in Florida township, this coniuy. June 2^. 1850, on 
the Halbert farm, and is a son of John W. and I'^lizabetb (Jordan) M,irk. 
The father was born in Kentucky, from which state he came w ith his parents 
to Indiana, his father, John .Mark, having entered land from the government 
near the citv of Greencastle, he having been the first one of the Mark family 
to settle in this state, and the f.amily was inlbienlial in the early hisiory of 
Putnam conntv . 

f. II. Marl< lirst went to school in Putnam county, this state, later linish- 
ing in the schools of Parke county, including the Friends Academy at Blooni- 
ingdaie. He then took a conr.se in DePauw University. .After coming into 



712 FARKK AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

rhis neighborhood he bought land from his father-in-law and has devoted 
his life to agricultural pursuits with a marked degree of success. He is now 
the owner of a finely improved and productive farm of one hundred and 
seventy-two acres, on which he keeps a good grade of live stock and on whicli 
stand a commo(Hous home and convenient outbuildings. 

Mr. Mark was married to Charlotte D. Lewis, daughter of Barnett and 
Rel)ecca (Forbes) Lewis, and to this union three children have been born, 
namelv : Rose Ella, who married J. D. Porter, of Brazil. Indiana, and they 
had three children. Mearl (deceased), Josephine and Henry Mark D. Ovid 
Ellsworth Mark married Pearl Vestal and they have one child, Frank L. 
Ovid Ellsworth Mark is a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church at 
Boston. Massachusetts. Elizabeth Rebecca is the wife of Fred ^^^entworth, 
of Terre Haute, Indiana. 

In religious ma'ters Mr. Mark is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, as is also his family, and politically, he is a Prohibitionist. 



WILLIAM F. BROWN. 

Wherever he is found, the Scotchman always stands for honest}' and 
integrity. He is reliable and his sturdy delerminatinn and persistence make 
the Scotch blood in this country one of the most valuable of European 
strains. We find in these children of bonny Scotland a droll humor and an 
un\arnished kindliness that makes them veni^ successful in their relations 
with their fellowmen. especially in positions of authority. William F. Brown, 
of Clinton, Vermillion county, Indiana, exemplifies these invaluable traits 
of his race, and he is one of the most highlv respected citizens in his com- 
munity. 

Mr. Brown was born in Scotland, February 13, 1857, of \\'illiam F. 
and Isabelle (Faulds) Brown. His father was a natixe of that countr}-, being 
born there in October, 183 1, and he lived there all his days, dying in March, 
1897. His mother was born in Scotland in 1836 and died one year after 
the birth of her son. William F. Brown, Sr.. was a teacher when he was 
young, but at the time of his death he held the position of cashier in Mc- 
Dowel's Foundrv at Johnstone. William F. Brown, Jr.. was the only child, 
and he came to the L'nited States in December. 1882. He first made his 
home in New York, but later went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Brown was married Xo\eml)er 2j. 1881, to Mary Mclntxre, who 



PARKE A.VD VERMILLION COX'XTIES, INDIANA. 713 

was born April 31, 1857, in Scotland, where she received a rather limited 
education. They have three children: William F. lives in Terre Haute. 
Indiana; James B. is at home and Margaret married Dave Downey. 

During Mr. Brown's residence in Pennsylvania he was employed in 
coal digging, but he stayed there only about a year, and in 1883 moved 
to Clay county. Indiana, where he remained until 1887. During this time 
he was a machine boss. Mr. Brown continued to climb the ladder of suc- 
cess, and he suon went to Sulli\an county to act as general superintendent 
for the New Pittsburgh Coal and Coke Comjjany. In 1901 Mr. Brown 
left this place for a position of still higher trust in Jenca\'e. W'. S. Bogel's 
mine. There he was superintendent of all of the interests of the Clinton 
Coal Company in \'ennillion county. Needless to say, this position was held 
to the credit of Mr. Brown and his company, and he is now acting as con- 
struction superintendent for the same comjiany. Dtiring all his activities 
Mr. Brown has stood strictly on his own merits, gaining every promotion 
b)' hard work and foresight. 

Mr. Brown is active in a num.ber of interests in his county, as well as 
the state at large. He is a Mason, a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows in Clay City, Indiana, of the Knights of Tythias at Clay City, 
and is identified with the Rcdmen at Sullivan. Mr. Brown's family afe 
Presbvterians and are active in the work. Politically speaking, William F. 
Brown is a Republican. He does his duty to his community politically and 
socialh-. as well as in a business way, and is one of the foremost citizens of 
Clinton. Mr. Brown owns his own home, near Clinton, as well as a number 
of lots in the town. It is such men as he who build up a community by 
being thrittv, honest and reliable, proving that some of America's most 
successful children are those who are adopted from across the water. 



STEPHFN TEXKS. 



For various rea.sons Stephen Jenks is deemed eligible for specific men- 
tion in this volume, not the least of which is the fact that be was one of the 
brave "boys in blue" who offered his services in defense of his country during 
the dark days of the sixties. His life has been one of honest endeavor and 
filled with good deeds throughout, and now. in the golden Indian summer of 
his life, he is enjoying a respite in his serene home at Dana. He has passed 
his eighty-third milestone and during his long, useful and industrious life 



714 PARKE AND \'ERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

he has been a most interested spectator to the crowding e\ents of that mo- 
mentous period in our history, having seen and taken part in the develop- 
ment of western Indiana, witnessing its phenomenal growth from a wilder- 
ness to its present advanced state of civilization and prosperity. 

Mr. Jenks was born in Washington county, Indiana. June 8, 1829, and 
he is a son of Tilly and Feroma (Taylor) Jenks, the father born March 12. 
1800, in Vermont, from which he eventual!}- moved to Xew ^'ork, and later 
to Washington county. Indiana, locating in the vicinity of Salem, and in the 
fall of 1848 he moved his family to Vermillion countv and here he spent 
the rest of his life, dying on May 6, 1882. The mother of the subject was 
born in New Hampshire. The subject's father was a blacksmith by trade, 
and he also farmed some. His family consisted of eight children, three of 
whom are still living. 

Stephen Jenks grew to manhood in his nati^•e communit\- and received 
his education in the common schools. On October 5, 1864. he was married 
to Mary James, who was born April /', 1837. and to this union four children 
were born, three of whom are still living, namely : Alma, who married L. E. 
Brown; Mayme, deceased, married George Sparks: Stephen Jenks, Jr., and 
Floyd B. 

Stephen Jenks began farming earlv in life and this vocation he followed 
through all his active career; however, he worked some with his father at 
blacksmitliing. He was very successful in his life work and laid liy a com- 
petency for his declining years. 

When the Civil war came on Mr. Jenks enlisted in Augu.st. 1861, in 
Vermillion county in Company C, Eighteenth Indiana \"olunteer Infantry, 
under Captain Washburn, who, being promoted, John C. Jenks, brother of 
the subject, was made captain of that company: he, too, was promoted to 
major and was later killed in battle. Stephen Jenks served three years to 
almost an hour and during that time he participated in man\- memorable 
campaigns and engagements, including tiie battles of Pea Ridge and Mag- 
nolia Church for Raymond), also the siege of Vicksburg. and the battles 
around that stronghold, including Jackson: later served in Texas and was 
in a great many skirmishes, always performing his duty faithfully. Major 
Jenks, mentioned above, received his mortal wound while gallantly leading 
a charge on the forts at Vicksburg, dying some thirty-six hours later. 

Stephen Jenks is now making his home with his oldest daughter at 
Dana, he having made the improvements on the home place here himself, 
and they are very comfortably located. Fraternally, he is a member of the 
Masonic order at Dana. Politicallv, he is an ardent Prohibitionist. 



I'ARKIC AM) \i:R.M1I.I,I().\ COLNTII-IS, IXDIANA. 715 

ELBERSON HATHAWAN'. 

Depeiideiil. \ery largely upon his uwii resources from early youth, Elber- 
son Hathaway, one of the best known Inisiness and representative citizens of 
the town of I'errysville, \'ermillion county, has attaincil to no insignificant 
success, and though he may ha\e, like man\- another man of affairs, met with 
some misfortune and encountered many oljslacles, he has pressed steadily 
forward, ever willing to work for the end which he has in \iew. lie has 
become one of the leading merchants of his section of the county, having 
built up an extensive trade in the grocer\- business and he has done nnich to 
promote the general progress of Perrys\ille. 

Mr. Hathaway was born' November 6. 1867, in h'ountain countv. In- 
diana. He is a son of Asher P. and Martha Allen (Clifton | Ilaihawax . biith 
also natives of Fountain county, the father's birth occurring on March 22, 
1844. There they grew to maturity and were married on b'eliruary 14. 1S64. 
and there they established the home of the family until 1873. ^^hen they 
moved to Perrysville, where they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying 
on January 17, 1900, and the mother passed away eighteen years previously, 
October 2. 1882. Their family consisted of four children, three of whom are 
still living. 

Elberson Hathaway was reared to manhood in his native community 
and there he received a good common school education. On .\pril 3, 1S02. 
he was married to Lottie Richardson, who was born August 18. iS7_'. in 
Fountain countv, Indiana, and there she grew to womanhood and received 
her educational training in the public schools. She is the daughter of Ste- 
phen and Elizabeth ( Ricketts) Richardson. The union of the subject and 
wife has been without issue. 

Mr. Hathaway started out in life as a farmer and in that manner got a 
good start. Later taking up the optical business in tlie town of Perrysville. 
he built u]) a very satisfactory patronage. He had for years made this sub- 
ject a close study and in order to perfect himself in the same took a course 
in the Chicago Xorthcrn Illinois Optical College, where he made a splendid 
record and from which institution he was graduated in 1904. Soon after 
that he went into the grocery business in Perrys\ille. which he has con- 
tinued with ever-increasing success to the present time, enjoying a large 
trade with the town and surrounding country, always carrying an extensive 
and carefullv selected stock of staple and fancy groceries at all seasons. 

Fraternally, Mr. Hathaway is a member of tiie Knights of Pythias 



h 



yi6 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and the Court of Honor, both at Perrysville. He is a member of the Chris- 
tian church, and in political matters he is a Democrat and while he is more 
or less interested in party affairs and in whatever tends to promote the gen- 
eral good of his town and community, yet he has not been a seeker after 
public office or mixed especially in political matters. 



ROSS VANSICKLE. 



It is not the man who is content \';ith the ideas of his fathers, who is 
content with things because ihey ha\e always been so, and who undergoes 
hardships because others ha\e undergone the same, who makes his mark on 
a community, and from there on the state and the country: but the man who 
is progressive, the man who is constantly looking for opportunities and mak- 
ing the most of those which present themselves, studying obstacles to find a 
way to overcome them. Such a man is a blessing to his family and neighbors 
and liis influence extends far. Among the men in Vermillion county who 
have shown themselves to be progressive, in business, social, and political 
life, is Ross VanSickle, who has been for many years one of the most high- 
ly respected, substantial men in Clinton, Indiana. 

Mr. VanSickle was born May 5, 185 1, the son of Samuel and Jaley 
(Donaldson) \'^anSickle. His father was a native of Indiana, being born 
in this state in the eighteenth century, and dying here in 1867. He married 
Jaley Donaldson, who has also lived in this state all her life, and is still 
dwelling here. His parents were honest, hardworking ])eople, of the stock 
to whom the state owes her early growth. They received only a common 
school education, but gained from their every-day experiences and such read- 
ing as could be easily gained in those days a knowledge of human life of 
which their son reaped great benefit. Samuel \'anSickle was a farmer and 
an engineer, and was highly respected in his neighborhood. He had fi\e 
children by Jaley Donaldson. Ross VanSickle has one brother, and one 
half-brother and half-sister living. 

Ross VanSickle received a \'ery limited education, living his early life 
on the farm. In 1887 he married Clara Coalman. She was born in 1868 
in Indiana and went to school in this state. They had eleven children, eight 
of whom are still living : Harry is single and staying at home : Joe is mar- 
ried and is the engineer at Oak Hill Mine No. 5 ; Bertlia. Ruby, Gertrude, 
Tim, Helen and Ruth are all at home. 



I'ARKE A\1J XKKMII.UOX COUNTIKS. I X I)J A.N A. /I/ 

Mr. N'anSicklc is a member of the Owl order. Lodge Xo. i 149. at 
Clinton, Indiana, where he is now making his home. He has ahvays fol- 
lowed mining as his occupation, with the exception of about (Mie month 
when he took a position as a railroad carpenter. The work, however, in the 
latter place was not to his liking, so he returned to the mines and is now 
engineer at Oak Hill mine No. i, a position where he has served for four 
years. Mr. "V'anSickle is a competent engineer. He is active in all of the 
public movements in his community, and a man whose calm judgment and 
unprejudiced decision has made him popular with his friends and neighbors. 



BENJAMIN F. LANG. 

One of the best known citizens and representative business men of 
Dana, V'ermillion county, is Benjamin [•'. Lang, who has maintained a grocery 
store there for the past twenty years and who during that period has done 
much toward the upbuilding of the town, being a man of public spirit and 
unselfish motives, desiring the general good and assisting his fellow towns- 
men while laboring for his own advancement. He bears an unblemished 
reputation and therefore has always enjoyed the good will and confidence of 
those who have had dealings with him in a business or social way. 

Mr. Lang was born July 11, 1851, at Rockville, Parke county, and he 
is a son of Joshua and Susan (McKnight) Lang. The father was- born in 
Ohio, and when a young man he removed to Indiana, and his death occurred 
in Parke county, where he had long resided, in 1896. The mother of the 
subject was born in Scotland and from that country emigrated to America 
when a girl, here grew to womanhood, met and married Mr. Lang, and her 
death occurred in 1867, thus preceding her husband to the gra\e by nearly 
thirty years. Joshua Lang engaged in the brick maiuifacturing business, 
being the first man to make brick in the town of Rockville. Early in life 
he taught school several years. His family consisted of eight children, five 
of whom are still living. 

Benjamin E. Lang grew to manhood in Rockville and there he received 
his education in the common schools. He was married to Sarah McMaster, 
who was born January 2, 1856. To the subject and wife eight children 
have been born, five of whom are still living, namely : Gertrude, Lawrence, 
Grace, Ethel and Walter. 

Mr. Lang began life for him.self as a railroader, following that with 



/iS PARKE AXD VERMILLION COCXTIES, INDIANA. 

success for a period of six years and was climbing up in that line of emleavor 
rapidly when he decided to abandon the road and take up a more peaceful 
pursuit ; consequently he turned his attention to merchandising, and for the 
last twent}- years he has been engaged in the grocery business at the town 
of Dana, during which time he has enjoyed a large and constantly growing 
trade with the town and surrounding country. He has a large, well stocked 
store, and owns a commodious dwelling and other \aluable property in 
Dana. In politics he is a Democrat, and he belongs to the Odd Fellows at 
Dana. 



WILLIAM JARDINE. 

One of the most reliable young miners of whom Vermillion count}' can 
boast is William Jardine, a typical Scotchman, whose industry and sterling 
integrity have made him a valuable man to the company with which he is 
connected near Clinton. The Scotch have been unusually successful in the 
work in the mines, both in this and the old country. They have a pride in 
their work for the work's sake, and their persistence and natural ability have 
placed them in positions of responsibility and trust. Their strong physique 
is also a big asset and they bring to their work a great force, which they 
seem to have gained direct from Mother Earth. 

Mr. Jardine's father, Ale.x. Jardine, was born in Scotland, in Dumfries- 
shire, in 1838. His mother, Martha (Steven) Jardine, was born January 
28, 1847, ^"<^1 's still living, having her residence in Clinton, Indiana. Alex 
Jardine was a shepherd, a man who knew nature in all her moods, and loved 
the hills where he tended his flocks. He gave the boy many \aluable lessons 
of life there in his natural pursuits, and the memory of the gruff but kindly 
shepherd will stay with William Jardine in all his work. There were ele\en 
children, seven of whom are still living. 

William Jardine was born January 17, 1882, in Cumberland, England. 
The family moved to Scotland when he was eight davs old. He received a 
common school education in that country, and spent his leisure time wan- 
dering alxjut the hills with his father or watching the fascinating work in 
the nearby mines. At the age of twelve years he went to work in the mines, 
and has been in them ever since. His first experience in the mines was in 
Lanarkshire. Scotland, with the Palace Coal Company at Hamilton, the 
model colliery of Scotland. He began at the bottom and his progress has 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 719 

been steadily up the ladder until he has, since he has ])cen in this countrv. 
held some of the highest positions in the mine. 

In 1908 Mr. Jardine came to the United .States and started to work in 
the mines at Salina. Pennsylvania. He only stayed there two months, how- 
ever, and came on to Indiana, settling near Clinton, Vermillion county, In- 
diana, where he immediately identified himself with the Clinton Coal Com- 
pany at mine No. 3. He next worked at No. 8 and then in the Klondike 
mine, from which he went l)ack to No. 8. leaving Xn. 8 to go to Runsen 
since September, 191 1. It is because men like Mr. Jardine, who have come 
to this country to find increased opportunities and an equal chance for 
everyone, and have seen how much is needed here before that condition pre- 
vails: it is because these men ha\-e not ceased to beliexe that their hopes can 
be realized, that socialism is h;i\'ing such a phenomenal growth. To such 
men this countrv owes much. 



JOHN R. MC. MILLER. 

The subject of this sketch is known as one of the best farmers of Rac- 
coon township, Parke county, where he has spent most of his life, he being a 
descendant of two of our worthy pioneer families, memljers of which played 
no inconspicuous part in the development of this section of the country and 
it has been to such as they that the country owes its debt of gratitude. All 
honor is due to the men who were willing to make the sacrifices necessary to 
prepare the wilderness for the success and comfort of coming generations. 

John R. Mc. Miller was born on February 9, 1849, one mile below his 
present home in Raccoon township, Parke county, Indiana, on the farm 
which his maternal grandfather, Jimmy Crabb, developed from the \irgin 
soil. He is a son of John B. and Nancy (Crabb) Miller. The father was 
also a native of this township and county, the Miller family having l>een 
among the earliest settlers here. The mother of the subject was born in 
Ohio. These parents received such public school instruction as those early 
times afforded, and they spent their lives engaged in general farming, and 
were the parents of three children, namely: James C, J. T. H.. and John 
R. Mc, of this sketch. 

John R. Mc. Miller grew to manhood on the home farm and there as- 
sisted his father with the general work, finding plenty to do in helping re- 
claim the farm from the wild state. He received a limited education in the 
common schools. On October 6, 1872. he was married to Delia J. Paine. 



720 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

wlio was born in Clay count}', Indiana, October 19, 1846. and tbere she grew 
to womanhood and received a pubHc school education. She is a daughter of 
Joseph and Julia (Webster) Paine, her parents having spent their lives in 
Clay county, both being now deceased. 

Four children hax'e been born to our subject and wife, namely: Harve}-, 
who married Hattie Ray, and they live in Parke county ; T. Howard is sin- 
gle and is living at home ; Grace married Harley Boatman, and they live in 
Rosedale, this county: Florence married Homer ^^'ood. and they also live in 
Parke county. 

Mr. Miller engaged in farming when a young man. then moved to 
Terre Haute, where he spent ten years successfully engaged in the shoe 
business, but finally, tiring of city life, he returned to the farm, where he 
has remained, being now the owner of one hundred and ninety-two acres of 
well improved and productive land in Raccoon township; he also owns with 
his brother forty acres in Clay county. He keeps part of his land rented 
out, but still lives on his place and has a cozy home and is very comfortably 
established. 



EDWIN G. McCORMACK. 

Having always led a life along lines of sobriety, industry and integrity. 
Edwin G. McCormack, one of the best known business men of Perrysville. 
Vermillion county, has become one of the influential men of his community 
whose interests he has ever had at heart and sought to promote, along moral, 
educational and material lines, thereby winning and retaining the good will 
and friendship of all who know him. 

Mr. McCormack w^as born on July 3, 1864, in Perrysville, Indiana, and 
here he has been content to spend his life, having always had faith in the 
town's future. He is a son of Smith and Sarah (Baldwin) McCormack. 
The father was born in Danville, Illinois, in 1837 and his death occurred in 
1903. The mother was born in Canada, from which country she came to 
the United States when a small girl. She is still residing in Danville, Illi- 
nois. She received a good education and in her younger years taught school 
for some time. Smith McCormack spent his life principally in the butcher 
business, maintaining a shop in Perrysville, Indiana, many years, in which 
town his father, James McCormack, was also engaged in the butcher busi- 
ness. Thus the subject came by his vocation quite naturally, having liter- 
ally grown up in the butcher business. The McCormack family has been one 



I'AKKI-: AM) \i;k.\iii.i.i<)\ col-ntiks. IMHAXA. J2\ 

of the most influential and best known of IVrrysvillc's citizens. I'".ii;ht cliil- 
drcn were horn to Smith McCormack and wife, tliree of whom are still livinj:;-. 

On November 24, 1887. Ivlwin (i. McCormack was united in marriatje 
to Anna L. Smith, who was horn on August 2. 1866. at t'oviuL^tou. Indiana. 
and, like the subject, she received a common school education, lo this union 
three children have been horn, namely: Jeanette. who married I'doyd (ira- 
ham, is lixin^t;' at the villa,i;e of (iessie, this countv, where he is emplo\ed as 
telegraph operator; (icrtrude is leaching school: Sarah is at home. 

Mr. McCormack has always been engaged in the butcher business. He 
was in partnership with his father until about 1889. and in l-"ebruary. iSc/). 
he and X. R. Smith formed a partnership. l)uying out Mr. .McCormack. sen- 
ior, which continued until, in l'"ebruarv. lyoo, the suliject ])urchased the in- 
terest of Mr. Smith and since then has been operating his shop alone, having 
the onl\ shop in Perrysx'ille. He has built up a ver\- extensive and lucrative 
patronage and his customers come from all o\er the township, lie owns the 
l)uilding where he maintains his modernly e(|uippe(l shop, also his home and 
ninetv acres of rich and well improved bottom land. He also owns a 
slaughter-house and does his own butchering. He has been \ery successful 
in a business way. 

Politically. Mr. McCormack is a Republican, but is not an active worker 
in the ranks. He belongs to the Woodmen lodge at (iessie. 



PATRICK Whd.CH. 



Inheriting the thrifty characteristics of the Celtic race, whose blood 
flows in his veins. Patrick Welch, a well known farmer of llelt township, 
Vermillion county, has succeeded at his chosen calling, having worked ear- 
nestly and honestlv for what he today possesses, asking no man to do either 
his work or his planning. He is a man who believes in attending strictly to 
his own afifairs. but he is at the same time neighborly and lends his support 
in the furtherance of those objects which make for the general good of the 
locality. 

Mr. Welch was born in \ermillion county. Indiana. March id, 1853, 
and he is a .son of Robert and Bridget (Maher) Welch, both natives of 
county Waterford. Ireland, where they s])ent their earlier years, received 
their educational training and were married, and from there they emigrated 
to .\merica. landing in Xew York Citv. In i8fio they established the per- 
(46) 



722 PARKE AXD VERMILLION COUNTIES/ INDIANA. 

manent home of the family in A'ermilhon counly, Indiana, and here thev 
spent the rest of their lives. They were the parents of five children, namely : 
John, Johanna, Mary, James, and Patrick, of this sketch, who is the youngest 
of the family. 

Patrick Welch grew to manhood in his native locality and received his 
education in the schools of Mi)ntezuma, then took up general farming, which 
he has continued with ever-increasing success to the present time. 

Mr, Welch was married in 1875 to Margaret McAulifF, daughter of 
William and Bridget (French) McAuliff, lioth nati\'es of Ireland, the father 
having been born in county Cork and the mother in county Waterford. They 
spent their earlier years in their native land, but came to this section of In- 
diana in a very early day, when the country was wild and Indians still 
plentiful. Mr. McAuliff lacked only two months of being one hundred years 
old when he died. He became very well established in the new world and 
was popular among the pioneers. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Welch, namely : William J., Mary. Robert L. and Alargaret. 

Politically, Mr, Welch is a Democrat, and while he has always been 
more or less interested in public and political events, he has never sought to 
be a leader in party affairs, and has ne\er been a candidate for public office, 
preferring to devote his attention to his farming and to his family, and he 
has therefore become well fixed. He is a stanch member of the Catholic 
church and a liberal supporter of the same. 



WILLIAM F. PEER. 



One of the useful citizens of Helt township and one of her most scien- 
tific husbandmen is William V. Peer, a man who takes infinite pains with 
that which he deems worth while and this trait, together with those that al- 
ways win when rightly applied, has resulted in a large measure of success 
attending his efforts all through his active life and today he is the owner of a 
splendidly improved and productive farm and a good, comfortable home, 

Mr. Peer was born in Vermillion county, Indiana, July 13, 1858, and 
is a son of John and Matilda (Cruseau) Peer, the father a native of Indiana 
and the mother of Ohio, and he is living about a mile southwest of the sub- 
ject, the mother being deceased. John Peer has devoted his life to farming 
and has been ver\' successful. His family cmsisted of eleven children, ten of 
whom are still living. 



PARKE AM) \-KUMII.I.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 723 

William F. Peer was married August 29. 1882, to l^lizahetli lirail- 
berry, who was born in Illinois in June. 1858. and her death occurred on 
December 24, 1908, after a hapjn- married hfe of over a quarter of a cen- 
tury. She was a good, industrious woman, and reared her children \ery 
carefully. To William F. Peer and wife were born fi\e children, named in 
order of birth as follows ; Angy married Charles Parr, and they live with 
the subject on the farm ; Claude has remained single ; Ethel married Ed. 
Dickson, and they live in Illinois ; Oakey married Ed. Scott, a carpenter, and 
they also live in Illinois; Paul, the youngest, is at home. 

Mr. Peer, as stated, has always devoted his energies to general farming 
and stock raising, and he is now the owner of an excellent place consisting of 
one hundred and sixty acres in a choice section of Helt township: it is all 
tillable land and he has made all the improvements on the same, it being well 
tiled, well fenced and the dwelling and outbuildings all in first class condi- 
tion. A good grade of live stock is to be seen in his fields, and he is making 
a verv comfortable living and laying by for "rainy days" ahead which must 
come in every life. 

Politically, Mr. Peer is a Democrat, but has never been a ])ul)lic man. 
and religiously ht belongs to the Methothst Episcopal church. 



SAMCia. STA \TS. 



No more painstaking farmer is to lie found in X'ermillion county than 
Samuel Staats. He was taught to be painstaking and to have system about 
his work when he was a boy and he has ne\er lost sight of that valuable 
admonishing, so it is no wonder that marked success has attended his efforts 
in his chosen field of endeavor, and, having managed well and been persistent, 
he is deserving of what he has attained in a material wav. 

Mr. Staats was born on June C), 1849, (m the farm where he is still re- 
siding, near Dana, \"ermillion county, Indiana, and is a son of Jo.seph and 
Sarah (Cummins) Staats. The father was born May 3. 1801. in West Vir- 
ginia, and there he grew to manhood, was educated and married, his wife 
having also been a native of West Virginia, born March 13. 1803. Tiiere 
they resided until after their first two children were born, coming to Indiana 
in January, 1829. Joseph Staats was a minister in the MethoclLst Episcopal 
church. He was jiopular in his denomination and did a great deal of good 
among the pioneers, lie was ju-iice of the i)eace for two terms and was 



J24 PARKE AXD \I:R.\I JI.LION COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

known for his fairness to all parties. His wife died on Ma\' lo. 1889, and 
his passing followed three months later. August 31st. Twehe children 
were born to these parents, three of whom are still living. 

Samuel Staats, the youngest son, grew to manhood on the home farm 
which the father settled and received a good common school education. On 
August 15, 1S83, he married Claribel Ford, who was born Xoveml)er 30. 
1852. in Indiana, a daughter of A'alentine b'ord. She also received a good 
education and followed teaching for a period of sixteen }ears with much 
success, her services being in great demand. 

Samuel Staats and wife have an adopted daughter, Edna, who married 
Ivan Hill. Thev Ii\e a half mile southeast of where the subject li\'es. ^vlr. 
Hill is an energetic farmer. 

Mr. Staats has always been a farmer and succeeding years have found 
him farther advanced all the while: howe\'er, early in life, he clerked in a 
store in Terre Haute one year. He is the owner of one hundred and twentx' 
acres of excellent and well improved land, all tillable but about fifteen acres, 
which are in pasture. His farm is well tiled : in fact, one of the best im- 
proved farms in the township, as well as one of the liest £quipped and most 
modern homes. 

Mr. Staats has been a life-long Repul)lican, l)ut is in-ogressi\-e in politics, 
and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Dana. He attends the Metho- 
dist church. 



FRANK SPENCER. 



One of the citizens of Parke county who has shown that he is able to 
succeed at various callings is Frank Spencer, now engaged in general farming 
and stock raising in Greene township. The family of which he is a very 
creditable representative is one of the old and highly respected ones of this 
vicinit\-, which they ha\e lived to see develop from a wild state to one of the 
foremost farming communities in the Wabash region, and they have not 
only helped in the material development of the same, but have supported all 
measures looking to the moral and educational and civic betterment of the 
township and county. 

Air. Spencer was born on March 6, 1873, in this township and county, 
and is a son of George W. and Mar)- ( Clark ) Spencer. The father w as also 
born in Greene township, Parke county. Indiana, and here grew to manhood, 
received such education as the early schools afforded and has here spent his 



PARKK AM) \"i:kMII.I.I().\ COUXTIKS. INDIANA. JJZ, 

lift", success full}- engaged in fanning, and is still li\ing in his nati\c lcicalit\-. 
but is now living retired. His wife, who also was a native of this count\-, 
born in 1843. died on Octoher 3. i(;ij. Ten cliildren were horn to tlie.se 
parents, all still living but one. 

Frank Spencer grew up on the homestead and assisted his father with 
the general work there, and in the winter time he attended the common 
schools. On August 30. 1898, he was united in marriage to Ellen Johnson, 
who was born on August 30, 1874, in Parke county, on the farm now owned 
by the subject. Here she grew to wmnanhood and recei\ecl a common school 
education. She is a daughter of James and Matilda (Lanning) Johnson. 
To the subject and wife four children have been born, namely: Doroth\' .\.. 
born September 7. 1899; Raymond, born August i, 1901 ; Rol>ert, born Jan- 
uarv II, 1907, and one wdio died in infancy. 

Mr. Spencer in his early life followed farming and also taught school 
awhile, then tried railroading for some time as telegra])her on the Cincin- 
nati. Hamilton &: Dayton railroad, at .Milligan. After leaving the road he 
resimied f.arming. which he has continued successfully tn the jiresent day, 
being now owner of one hundred acres, se\enty-fi\e of which are tillal)le, in 
Greene township, Parke county. It is well tiled and otherwise modernly im- 
proved, and he has a good home. 

Mr. Spencer is a Democrat, i)ut is not especially acti\e in party affairs, 
and in religious matters he attends the Christian church. 



JESSE 11. UCSSELL. 



One of the most highly respected citizens of Parke county, Indiana, lives 
in Liberty township, near Kingman, Indiana: he is a meml^er of the Friends 
church and has alwavs stood high in the churcii, in his work in the commun- 
ity, and in the regard of his friends and neighbors. His e\i)erience has U'en 
extensive in that part of the counlr\ ;ind his reputation as an excellent farm- 
er is wide. He is Jesse H. Russell, a man of highest integrity and ability, 
one of the most reliable citizens of Liberty townshij). 

Of Jesse 11. RusselTs ancestors this much is known: Josei)h Russell 
emigrated from Ireland to Maryland and later moved from there to F'enn- 
svlvania. Excejn of one son, Hugh, there is nothing known of his wife and 
familv. Hugh married, but the name of his wife is not known, and to them 
were born three children, Hugh again l)eing the name of the only s, ,n He 



726 PARKE AXU \ERMII.I.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

married Mary Ann Sill, whose father also had emigrated from Ireland, and 
to this union were born nine children, Hugh ¥. being the sexenth child. 

Hugh F. Russell was born in Ohio, moving to this state when he was 
\ ery small. When he became of age he settled on a farm in Parke county, 
and was very successful as a farmer. He died in January, 1909. The mother 
of Jesse H. Russell was Elizabeth (Shoop) Russell, who was a native of 
Parke county, Indiana, and died in 1877. She became the wife of Hugh F. 
Russell on October 16, 1851. They had eight children, six of whom are now 
living, Jesse H. being the second in order of birth. 

Jesse H. Russell was born on October 17, 1853, in Sugar Creek town- 
ship, Parke county, Indiana. He spent his earl)- life on the farm in much the 
same manner as the majorit}- of youths on Indiana farms in those days — 
going to the common schools, helping with the farm work outside of school 
hours and during vacation seasons, and joining the healthy out-of-doors 
sports which appeal to American youth, .\fter finishing school he turned his 
attention to agriculture as his work. 

Mr. Russell was married on April 11, 1880, to Martha Kennedy. In 
1887 she died, and later, on March 16, 1892, he married Lydia E. Hodson. 
who was born in Hendricks county. Indiana, Mav 3. 1863. She received a 
common school education in Liberty township, Xu. i school. Mrs. Russell's 
father was in the Civil war, answering the call for volunteers with other 
brave and loyal Northern men. Jesse H. Russell had six children, two by his 
first and four by his second wife. Leroy is dead, but Nora, Letha \'., John. 
Hester and Lola LaVern are living. 

Mr. Russell has always devoted himself to his famil_\- and his work, 
and his industry and good management have been well rewarded. He owns 
sixty acres of land in Liberty township of the most productive ground, which 
he keeps in the \ery best of condition. He also has an interest in two hun- 
dred and eighty acres of good land. Mr. Russell has made all of the improve- 
ments on his place himself, and has one of the best equipped farms in the 
county. Jesse H. Russell is one of the best known and most respected men 
in Parke county, as he has always proved himself a kintlly neighbor and 
friend, and given many the benefit of his good judgment and well balanced 
mental habit on manv propositions of both personal and public importance. 
Mr. Russell is a Republican, speaking politically, and he has always stood 
earnestly and honestly by his convictions. Such men, working in their own 
immediate circles, do much for the establishing of every righteous cause and 
the bringing about of reforms of which the nation as a whole stands in need. 



I'AUKK AM) XKR.MU.LIUX CUUXTIES, INKIANA. -JZ^ 

JOHN A. TOLIN. 

Altliough iiuw li\iiii; in linimiiiljle retireiiienl in hi^^ cuniniuilious and 
pleasant home in tlie ht-autitul cit\ of Rockville. John A. Tolin has lonj;' 
been regarded as one of ihe most enterprising and puhlic spirited citizens (it 
Farke county, and his name needs no introduction to the readers of tliis 
work. He was for many years prominently identified with the agricultural 
interests of the county, also widely kncjwn as a stock raiser on an extensi\e 
scale. He has always manifested an abiding interest in the public welfare 
of his community. His long life has been a most active one in every respect, 
and has resulted in much good to his fellow men and the community at large, 
throughout which he is held in the highest esteem which he well merits in 
every way. 

Mr. Tolin was born near Cloverdale, Putnam county, Indiana, July iT). 
1848. His parents were Richard J. and Rebecca (Mark) Tolin. The father 
was born in Kentucky and the mother was also a native of the iJhie (Irass 
State, each rei)resenting fine old Southern faniilies, and there these parents 
grew to maturity and were educated and spent their earlier years. Richard J. 
Tolin came to Putnam county, Indiana, with his father, A. \\. Tolin, in an 
early day and there the latter spent the rest of his life, dying in 1880. and 
was buried at Brick Chapel church, that county. Richard J. Tolin removed to 
Kansas, where he spent the rest of his life, dying there in 1893. at the age of 
seventy-three years, having been preceded to the gra\e by his wife about a 
vear before. They became the jjarents of seven children, three of whom are 
now living, John A., of this review, and Henry and James Tolin. both living 
in Kansas. 

[dhn A. Tolin s|)eiit his bo\lio<i(l nn the home farm in Putnam cnunty. 
Indiana, and from there lie removed with his father to Kansas in t863. he 
being then about fifteen years of age. and he received nio.st of his education 
in the North East Kansas Seminary, in Jackson county, fie returned to In- 
diana in 1874. after teaching school several years in the Suntlower state. He 
continued teaching for a time after coming to Indiana, teaching in all six or 
se\en vears. He was \ery successful in this line of endea\or and had he 
desired to continue in the same he would doubtless have become one of i>ur 
most popular educators. But he turned his attention to general farming and 
in due course of time became one of the leading agriculturists and stock men, 
carrying on general farming on a large scale and becoming the owner of a 
valuable and productive farm of over five hundred acres in Florida town- 
ship, this county, which he brought up to a high state of improvement and 



J2.S PARKE AXU VEKMIl.LJn.N COL'XTIES. IXDIAXA. 

cultivatiun. He also owns fifty acres of good land adjoining the town of 
Rockville. besides a valuable property in Rockxille, consisting of a fine mod- 
ern home. He has worked hard and managed well. 

Mr. Tolin was married on October 3, 1877, to Louisa M. John.son, a 
native of Parke county. Indiana, being the daughter of a highly esteemed 
old family here. To this union four children have been l)orn, two of whom 
are deceased, namely: Glenn is ca.shier of the bank at Pittsboro, Indiana, in 
which he and his father own the controlling stock, and he makes his home 
in that citv : George works on the farm: W'illard died about three years ago; 
one child died in infancy. 

Mr. Tolin retired from active farm life and removed to Rockville in 
1904 and here he has since lived a quiet life. 

The subject and wife are both members of the ]\leth<)dist K])iscoi)al 
church, he being one of the stewards of the same and is a trustee of the 
church and cemetery at Mt. Pleasant church, which is in the neighlwrhood 
of his farm in Florida township. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of 
Pythias at Mecca. He is a man of pleasing address, obliging. charital)le and 
neighborly, and has always Ijeen held in the highest esteem b\- his wide circle 
of friends. 



EDWARD F. McCAMAN. 

The gentleman to a review of whose life and characteristics the reader's 
attention is herewith respectfully invited is among the progressive citizens 
of Helt township, Vermillion county, whn by energy and correct methods 
has not only achieved success for himself, l)Ut has also contributed in a very 
material way to the commercial, civic and moral advancement of his place of 
residence, for he has ever Ijeen an advocate of right living and industrious 
habits, in the course of an honorable career Mr. ?^lcCaman has e.stabli.shed 
iiim.self in a liberally remunerative enterpri.se and won the confidence and 
esteem of his fellow citizens during the years of his residence here since 
coming from his native state of Illinois (|uite awhile ago. 

Edward F. McCaman was born in the state of Illinois, Janiiar)^ 15, 
1863. and he is a son of Tillman and Sarah (Myers) McCaman, both of 
whom were torn in Kentucky, in which state they spent their earlier years 
and from which place they emigrated U> Illinois in an early day. There they 
became well established through their industry- and frugalit\- and there they 
reared their faniilv. the following children having been born to them: Jolin, 



PARKE AND \l-:Ki\I II.I.IOX fOL- XTIES, INIilANA. 729 

Nancy. Hairy, liphraini R.. Stephen, (ieorge. Rdwaril 1"".. of this sketch; 
and Rosa, who was the youngest in order of l)irtli. Tlu' father of tlie al>jve 
named chil<h-en followed farming all liis life and l)oth lie and his wife are 
now decease<l, lea\iii;; hehiiid them reenrds of \\orlli\- li\es. 

Edward I". McC'aman grew to manhood on the home farm and there he 
assisted with the regular work when he hecame of jjroper age, and during 
the winter months lie atleiideil tlie rural schools in his neighhorhood. re- 
ceiving a good practical education in that maimer, lii iS88 he was married 
to Alda MacRoberts. daughter of Alfred and Mary ( ). (l-'isher) MacKoh- 
erts, a highl}- res])ected family of their communitx'. Both Mrs. McCaman's 
parents were born in Kentucky, \\bere they si)ent the early part of their 
lives, but came t6 Vermillion county. Indiana, in an early day and here be- 
came useful citizens. One child has been born to the subject and wife. 
Homer T. jMcC'aman. who li\es at home. 

Mr. McCaman has long taken iiukIi interesi in public life, and in it^o8 
he was elected trustee of Helt township, being the present incumbent of that 
office, and, having been re-elected, his term will not ex])ire until 1914. He is 
giving the utmost satisfaction in this nffice. h'raternalh , he belongs to the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at St. liciiiice. Indiana, also the Re- 
bekahs and the Encampment, and the Ben-Ilur lodge at Clinton, also the 
Modern \\'oodmen of America at the town of St. Bernice. He is ])rominent 
in fraternal circles in this section of the state. Religiously, he lielongs ti) the 
Methodist Episcoj)al church and liberall\ sujjports the same. 



CART. SAMl'EL j. H Al.l.. 

The Union soldier iluring the great war between the states builded 
wiser than he knew . Through four years of suffering and wasting hardships, 
through the horrors of prison pens and amitl the shadows of death, he laid 
the superstructure of the greatest temple ever erected and iledicated to hu- 
man freedom. The world looked on and called those soldiers sublime, for it 
was theirs to reach out the mighty arm power and strike the galling chains 
from off the slave, preserve the country from dissolution, and to keep unfurled 
to the breeze the onlv flag that ever made tyrants tremble and whose majestic 
stripes and scintillating stars are still waving liberty to all the earth. For 
all these unmeasured deeds the living i)resent will never rejia} them. Rension 
and political |)Ower may be thrown at their feet, art and sculpture may pre- 



730 PARKE AXD VERMILLIOX COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

ser\e upon can\as and in granite and bronze their unselfish deeds; history 
may commit to books and cold type may give to the future the tale of their 
sufferings and triumphs; but to the children of the generations yet unborn 
will it remain to accord the full measure of appreciation and undying re- 
membrance of the immortal character carved out by the American soldiers 
in the dark days of the early sixties, numbered among whom was Capt. 
Samuel J. Hall, one of the largest land owners and most substantial agricul- 
turists of Vermillion county, where he has spent his long, industrious and 
useful life, coming down to us from the pioneer days, his family having been 
among the sterling early settlers here, and he has ever had the interests of 
his locality very much at heart, seeking to promote them upon all occasions, 
and he is therefore well known and highly esteemed. 

Captain Hall was born in Vermillion township. \'ermillion county. In- 
diana, on April 13, 1835. and is a son of \\'illiam B. and Nancy (Jordon) 
Hall. The father was born in Virginia in 1799. In early life he came to 
Kentucky and after remaining there a short time he came on to Indiana, 
first locating in Parke county, remaining at the village of Montezuma a few 
years, then moved over into \'ermillion township, this county, and estab- 
lished the family home on a farm, which lies just east of that now owned by 
his son, Samuel J., of this review, having come here in the year 1835, and 
became the owner of a valuable farm of four hundred and forty acres. He 
devoted his life to farming and met with a larger measure of success than 
falls to the average man. His death occurred here on December 10, 1863. 

Captain Hall grew to manhood on the home farm and assisted with the 
general work when a boy, and he received his primary education in the 
common schools of his community. W'hen the Ci\il war came on he en- 
listed for service on October 9, 1861, raising Company I, of which he was 
elected captain, and they were assigned to the Forty-third Indiana \'olun- 
teer Infantry. He was later elected colonel of the regiment, after it was 
veteranized, but was never commissioned and served until the close of the 
war as captain in a manner that was most faithful and gallant, according to 
his comrades. He was in the far South in the Seventh Army Corps, serving 
most of the time in Mississippi. He was in the battle of Xew Madrid and 
Ruddles Point, there capturing a force of four thousand men. then partici- 
pated in the siege of Fort Pillow for fifty-six days. In 1862 he assisted in 
the capture of Memphis. Tennessee, assisting the gunboats. He was then 
in the skirmish at Helena, Arkansas, and on July 4. 1863. was in the battle 
there. Later they went to Little Rock, where there was a battle. He was 
then on the Red River expedition with General Steele's army, that trip re- 



PARKE AND VKRM ILI.K ).\ COUNTIES, IXDIAXA. 73I 

quiring twenty-six days, and there was a fight ever)- day. He then went to 
Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and was in the fight at Marks Mills, where the brigade 
in which Captain Hall served was captured, also four hundred wagons, only 
twenty-six men, Captain Hall and one lieutenant escaping. 'l"he\' returned to 
Little Rock. In the fighting at Helena, Captain Hall led a charge and cap- 
tured Colonel Bell of the Southern forces. For his gallant conduct tliere he 
got thirty days" leave of absence, his release being signed Ijy (ieneral (Irant. 
After returning to the army, the subject was appointed post adjutant of Lit- 
tle Rock, Arkansas, later coming home on a \-eteran furlough, leaving Little 
Rock in June, 1864. He came to Terre Haute and while en route his regi- 
ment was sent into Kentucky after General Morgan, the Confederate raider, 
so before coming on to Terre Haute he joined in the chase in Kentuckw 
After the expiration of his thirty days" furlough he went to Indianapolis and 
did guard duty, after which lie returned home and resumed farming, which 
he has continued from that time to the present, also has devoted consider- 
able attention to stock raising and shipping, the center of his stock buying and 
selling being at Edgewood, on his large farm. He is the owner of eight 
hundred and fifty acres of well improved and valuable land, seven hundred 
acres of which lie in Vermillion township, the balance in Eugene townshij). 
He rents his land, but oversees it in a general way. He has made all the 
improvements on his place, and the\- are modern, and everything denotes 
thrift, good management and excellent taste. He has one of the finest 
homes in this and adjoining counties, which is in the midst of attractive sur- 
roundings, and there are many large and substantial outbuildings on his 
land. He is an exceptionally good judge of live stock and always keeps an 
excellent grade and large numbers. He has been very .successful as an agri- 
culturist and stock man and lias accumulated a handsome competency for 
his declining years. 

Captain Hall was married in 1867 to Elizabeth Head, daughter of 
Francis and Emeline (Lucas) Head, early settlers of XermillidU county and 
long a prominent family here. Mr. Head operated a woolen factory here 
many years. He was a native of New Hampshire. The union of the subject 
and wife has been without issue. 

Politically, the Captain has always been a stanch Rei)ublican. lie was 
for a number of years land ai)praiser of this county, his i)rincipal duties 
being to appraise land for school funds. He is a member of the (irand 
.\rmy of the Republic, Kenesaw Post, at I )an\ ille. Personally, he is a gen- 
tleman-of kindlv impulses and genial address and be numbers his friends 
onlv bv the limits of his acfpiaintance. 



Jo- PARKE AXD VERMILLION COLXTIES, INDIANA. 

JOHN' HENDERSON. 

John Henderson was born in \'erniillion township, \'ermillion countw 
Indiana, August 20, 1831. He is a son ot William and Anna ( Hayworth ) 
Henderson, and a grandson of Richard Henderson, a native of South Caro- 
lina, from which state he moved to Clinton county, Ohio, where he raised 
his family, moving to this county in i<Sj4. He entered land from the gov- 
ernment and. through hard work. de\elo])ed a good farm, and here our sub- 
ject's father spent his life engaged in agricultural pursuits, his death oc- 
curring in March. 1857. He also conducted a tannery for nian\- years dur- 
ing the early days. He owned the farm on which tht- subject now li\es. a 
part of the homestead, he having become one of the sulistantial farmers of 
the county, owning eight hundred acres of good land at the time of his 
death, which land was dix'ided among his children, there having been six in 
his family, namely: Maria is deceased; John, of this sketch: Rachael, de- 
ceased; Richard, deceased: Cicily and William V.. also deceased, the subject 
being the la.st survivor of the family. The father, William Henderson, was 
a Whig in early life until the Reiniblican party was formed in 1856. when he 
identified himself with it. He was never an office seeker, though in the 
earlv days he was township trustee and clerk of the school board. He and 
his father were members of the Friends church. The maternal grandfather 
was also a member of that denomination. The ancestors on Ixith sides of 
the house were Quakers as far back as known. 

John Henderson grew to manhood nn the home farm and there worked 
hard when a boy. He received a meager education in the old log school 
house that stood near his home, later attended a monthlv meeting school at 
their church, and he spent eleven weeks at Bloomingdale .Academy, also at- 
tended the \'erniillion .\cademy at \^erniillion Croxe. Illinois, three winters. 
He began life b\- teaciiing school in the winter time and farming during the 
summer months. He has devoted his life to farming with the exception of 
one \ear. when he had charge of White's Manual Labor Institute near 
\\'abash. Indiana. He has been very successful in his vocation and is now 
the owner of a |)roductive and well improved farm of two hundred and fifty 
acres, where he has carried on general farming and stock raising and still 
oversees the place. Init kee])s a tenant. He has a comfortable dwelling and 
large, convenient outbuildings. 

Mr. Henderson was tw'ice married, first to Harmony Allen, of Parke 
county. Indiana, and to this union one child was born. Foster A., who is 
deceased, in 1870 Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Dinah Towell. 



i'Am<i: AN'i) \'i:rmii.i.1()N coin tiks, imhaxa. j^^ 

of Syhania, I'aike count), this state, a daugliter nf ( icori^o 'I'ciwcil and 
wife, who were very early settlers in that cotmty. 1 Icr father died al the 
village of Marshall al the advanced age of ninety-six years. An aunt of 
Mrs. Henderson is one hundred and one \'ears old. and is in prellv good 
health. 

.Mr. llenderson is a I 'rohihitionist in ])olitics. lie \\a> count\ sur\evor 
for two terms. He is president of llu- l)oard of trustees o\ Collclt Home for 
poor children of the county, and h;is done much tow.ard ni.aking this institu- 
tion a prononncetl success. It has o\er two himdred acres of land ruid sixty 
thousand dollars are on deposit for its maintenance. 



E. H. SPF.LLMAX. 



In the subject of this sketch we have a rei)resentati\e of one of the 
worthy old pioneer families and one who is recognized as a leading farmer 
of \'"ermillion county, owning and operating at this time ;i well iinpro\cd 
farm of great \alue in \'ermillion township. He is regarded I)\- all who 
know him as being a most capable and energetic man. broad minded and 
sound in his business princijjles. 

E. H. Spellman was born in Livingston counl\. Illinois. Ma\- n). icS-o. 
He is a son of Henrv and Mollie (Scott) Spellman. who spent their lives 
engaged successfully in general farming pursuits. The father is now living 
retired in the town of Newport. X'erinillion county. Indiana. 'The mother 
was called to her eternal rest when the subject was young. 

Three children were l)orn to Henry Spellman and wife, named in order 
of birth as follows: Stella. Clara (deceased). E. ?T. of this sketch. 

E. H. Siiellman grew to manhood on the home farm and when a l)oy 
he assisted his father with the general work about the ])lace during the croj) 
sea.sons. attending the district schools in the winter months. In l''ebrnary. 
1X87. when he was seventeen years of age Mr. Spellman came to \er- 
nnllioii coinitv. Indiana, locating in X'erinillion township, ami here he has 
since remained engaged in general farming and slock raising, and lie has 
been verv successful, being now the owner of a finely improved and pro- 
ductive farm of one hundred and sixty acres, nearly all under cultivation. 
Here he carries on general farming and stock raising. He is a good judge 
of live stock and no small part of his competency has been derived from the 
judicious handling of stock. He has a pleasant honie and good outbuildings. 



734 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUXTIES. INDIANA. 

Mr. Spellman was married in 1892 to Frances Rice, daughter of Will- 
iam Rice, a native of New Albany. Indiana, and he grew to manhood and was 
educated in the southern part of the state. He was 1d)' trade a shoemaker 
and is now deceased. One child, Cecil, has been born to the subject and 
wife. 

Mr. Spellman is a Republican, but has never been an office seeker. Fra- 
ternally, he belongs to the Masonic order. Lodge No. 242, at Newport. He 
has done considerable remodeling about his place, and it is now in ship 
shape in every respect. He has a good automobile, of late model, and is 
fixed to eniov life. 



HUGH H. CONLEY. 



Indiana has been especially honored in the character and career of her 
professional and public men. In every county there are to be found, rising 
above their fellows, individuals born to leadership, men who dominate not 
alone by superior intelligence and natural endowment, l)ut by force of char- 
acter which minimizes discouragements and dares great undertakings. Such 
men are by no means rare in the famous Wabash valley, and it is always 
profitable to study their lives, weigh their motives and hold up their achieve- 
ments as incentives to greater activity and higher excellence on the part of 
others just entering upon their struggles with the world. Such thoughts 
are prompted by a study of the life record of Hugh H. Conley, of Newport, 
Vermillion county, lawyer, soldier and public-spirited citizen, who for a 
period of over a quarter of a century has l)een a leader in the affairs of this 
localitv whose interests he has ever had at heart and sought to jiromote. 

Mr. Conley was born in Vermillion count}', Indiana. January 14, 1843. 
the scion of a sterling pioneer family, members of which have ])layed no in- 
conspicuous role in the develo])ment nf tlie county from a wilderness to its 
advanced condition of today. He is a son of Elijah and Nancy (Downing) 
Conley. The father was born in 1798, and the mother's birth occurred in 
Delaware in 1798. Elijah Conley was a shoemaker by trade and he came 
to this localitv in the earlv days, establishing the permanent home of the 
family. The mother came to Vermillion county as early as 181 9. she and 
her family being among the ver\' earliest settlers here. Seven children were 
born to Elijah Conley and wife, namely: Mary, Jane, Phoebe, William W.. 
all deceased: Jonathan died in infancy; Elijah P. is living in Huntington, 
Indiana, though formerly engaged in merchandising in Clinton: Hugh H., 



PARKi; AXD N'KRMII.r.IOX COfNTIF.S. IN'DIAXA. JT,^ 

of this sketch, being tlie youngest. The death of the father of the above 
named children occurred in December. 1843. the mother surviving until 
September 5. 1888. 

Hugh H. Conley was educated in the common schools of his native 
community, later spending a short time in Terre Haute at the State Normal 
School. He began life for himself as a teacher, which he followed with 
marked success for a period of twelve years, mostly in Vermillion county, his 
services having been in great demand. He had been reading law for some 
time while teaching, ;ind when he left the school room he entered an office 
where lie continued the study of law, and, making rapid progress, was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1877 in Newport, and from that date to the present time 
he has been successfully engaged in practice in this cimntv, spending three 
years at Clinton, the balance of the time at Newport. He has figured 
prominently in the noted cases that have come up in the local courts during 
that long period, winning a position in the front rank of attorneys in this 
section of the state. ha\ing remained a deep student cif legal science and kept 
fully abreast of the times. He has built up a \ery extensive and lucrative 
practice. While he li\ed in Clinton he was county superintendent of schools 
for three years. He has also served as prosecuting attorney of the twenty- 
first judicial circuit for two terms, or four years, and he served as a member 
of the school board for many years. He is a Republican in politics and has 
long been active in the ranks. .'\s a public ser\ant he gave eminent satis- 
faction in every respect. 

On September g, 1862, Mr. Conley enlisted as a recruit in Company 
C, Eighteenth Indiana \'olunteer Infantry, and was sent into the \\'estern 
army, serving througli the ^'icksburg campaign, later in Texas in 1863 and 
1864. Then .served with Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley camjjaign. and 
was wounded at the liattle of Cedar Creek. He was sent to the hospital on 
Octolier 10, 1864. and remained there until in May, 1865. He was in the 
hospital at Indianapolis, also at Gcnnantown. near Philadelphia, having had 
the smallpox when at the former. He was honorably discharged from the 
service on Ma\- 24, 18(1;, after a ver\- faithful ami coninuMidnhk' recurd for 
the I'm'on. 

Mr. Conlev was married to Mary .\. Saunders on September 0. 1874. 
and five children were horn to this union, namely: I.ulu M. died in infancy: 
Paul H. is living at Lawrenceville. Indiana, where he is engaged in the auto- 
mobile business: however, he was formerly a law partner with his father for 
a period of ten vears: Carl H. is engaged in missionan- work at Nadiad, India, 
having charge of the industrial school there, but he was formerly a civil 



Ji^i PARKE AXD VERMII.I.IOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

engineer: William Bert, who i> a la\v\er and in partnership with his father, 
married Ethel Halstead. of Brazil. Indiana: Edith Alice is at home. The 
sons of the subject were all educated at De])auw I'niversity. Greencastle, 
Indiana, and William B. attendeil the law department of the I'niversity of 
Indiana, at Bloomington. The daughter was educated at the Woman's Col- 
lege at Jacksonville. Illinois, where she graduated in voice and piano music. 

On June 28. 1894. Mr. Conley was united in marriage to Margaret A. 
Maloney, daughter of Patrick and Margaret Maloney, both natives of Ire- 
land. Mrs. Conley was bom in Louisville. Kentucky. July 5. 1862. To 
this union two children have been born, namely: Mark M., who died when 
two years old. and Margaret, who is at home. 

Mr. Conley was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and has always been officially connected with the church, 
for years being superintendent of the Sunday school. His son. tlie mission- 
ary, is representing this denomination. 

Mr. Conley is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of \aluable 
and well improved land in Helt township, X'ermillion county, the ])lace 
where his early boyhood was spent. He keeps his farm rented, but has kept 
it in first class condition. He has maintained a pleasant home in Newport 
since 1877. since which time he has done much for the general upbuilding 
of the town and won the good will and esteem of all who know him. 



MAR\'1X H. CASE. 



Fame may look to the clash of resounding arms for its heroes: history's 
pages may ht filled with the record of the deeds of the so-called great who 
ha\e deluged the w<irld with blood, destroyed kingdoms, created dvnasties and 
left their names as plague spots upon ci\ilization's escutcheon: the poet may 
embalm in deathless song the short and simple annals of the poor: but there 
have been comparatively few to sound tlie praise of the bra\e and sturdy 
pioneer, who among the truly great and noble is certainly deserving of per- 
jietuation on the category of the immortals. To liim more than to any other 
is civilization indebted for the brightest iewel in its diadem, for it was he who 
blazed the wav and acted as vanguard for tlie niightv arni\- of progress that 
within the last centun- has conquered Indiana's wilderness and transformed 
it into one of the fairest and most enlisrhtened of American commonwealths. 




MARVIN H. CASK. 



PAKKK A.VU VKU MILLION COUNTIES, IXDIAxNA. "JT^y 

Tu this Sterling class belongs Marvin il. Case and his father before him, the 
former Parke county's largest land owner and the latter long since a traveler 
to that "undiscovered bourne from whence no traveler ever returns." The 
Case family has been one of the most prominent and inlluential ui this locality 
since the earliest pioneer days, and during the ninety years that they have re- 
sided in our midst they have seen the wondrous development uf the county 
and have played a most important part in the same, so that there is particular 
occasion for giving at least a brief history of the subject of this sketch and 
his forebears in this work. 

AI. ii. Case was born July lo, 1835, ^^^ his present farm in Morida town- 
ship, Parke county, Indiana, m a log cabin built by his father many years be- 
fore when he took up life here as a hrst settler, clearing a small part of the 
wild land which he secured. The subject is a son of Seba and Alary (Stilsou) 
Case. The father was born in 1794 in New York state, and he came to In- 
diana among the earliest settlers, locating at Terre Haute, where he remained 
two years, then moved to Parke county in 1822. He had been reared to man- 
hood in the East and had been educated there. Upon hrst leaving home he 
located in Ohio, w here he remained two years before coming on to Indiana. 
He was a man of a great deal of natural ability, ihc type of man that would 
succeed in most any environment. He braved the wilds of western. Indiana 
when there were very few white settlers; when the kindreds of the wild 
were plentiful; when there were few roads and no bridges; when trading 
posts were far remote; and yet he worked with a will and by sheer grit suc- 
ceeded, eventually becoming one of the substantial and influential men of his 
locality. He first operated a saw-mill in Koseville, or more properly on the 
site where the town of Roseviile now stands; later he entered eighty acres 
from the government. He impro\ eci his eighty acres of wild land, and added 
to it from time to time as he jirospered, eventually becoming the owner of a 
fine farm of five hundred acres, where he remained until his death in 1879: 
His family consisted of only three children, namely: Horace is deceased; 
M. H.. of this .sketch; and Mrs. Eliza King, who is deceased. 

M. H. Case was reared to manhood on the old homestead and. being the 
son of a pioneer and growing up amid early pioneer conditions, he found 
l)lent\- of hard work to do when a boy. and he assisted his father to clear and 
improve the homestead and here has spent his long and successful life. He 
received such education as the early rural schools afforded, and later attended 
school at Bloomingdale two terms. He has been successful beyond the aver- 

(47) 



738 PARKE AXD \ERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

age farmer and is now one of the most substantial and best known agricultur- 
ists and slock men in Parke county, and, as stated, the largest land owner of 
the county, his lands aggregating two thousand acres, well located in Morida 
anil Raccoon townships, most of which is under modern impro\'ements and is 
producti\'e, valuable land. He has always kept an excellent grade of live stock 
in large numbers, and no small portion of his large competency has been 
gained in that manner. He has a commodious home, large and convenient 
outbuildings, and e\er}thing about his place denotes thrift, good management 
and prosperity. 

Mr. Case was married in 1863 to Sarah Hartman, and to this union 
three children have been born, namely : Burt, who has remained single ; Seba 
H., who married Ethel Evans, and they have two children. Max and Marvin; 
Cora E. is the \\ife of Fred W. Beal. and they have one child, Roselyn. 

Fraternally, Mr. Case is a member of the Masonic order, and one would 
judge from his upright and obliging, unselfish daily life that he made an 
honest effort to carry the sublime precepts of this time-honored fraternity into 
his e\ery-day life. Politically, he is a Democrat, and in 1880 served very 
acceptablv as trustee of Florida township. He has always supported heartily 
stich measures as make for the impro\-ement of Iiis locality. 



B. O. SHERRILL. V. S. 

One of the most promising of the younger veterinary surgeons of Ver- 
million and Parke counties is Dr. B. O. Sherrill. of Newport, who, although 
not long in the ]iractice. has had a wonderful success and has proven himself 
not only as the possessor of the many natural attributes that must go to 
make a success in this exacting profession, but also that he is the master of 
the most advanced methods practiced by the twentieth-century advocates of 
this science, and. judging from his past excellent record, the future must 
needs hold for him much of success. 

Dr. Sherrill was born in Boone county, Indiana, October 15. 1882. and 
he is a son of M. F. and Sarah (Smith) Sherrill, the father a well known 
and popular minister in the United Brethren church, who is now living at 
Anapolis, Indiana. The mother was called to her rest in 19 12. 

Dr. Sherrill was educated in the public schools and he was graduated 
from the high school at Penfield, Illinois. Having decided to become a vet- 



I'ARKF. AXD VKRMILLIO.V COUNTIES, INDIAXA. 739 

erinary surgeon, lie t-nlcred llie liuliaiia \'eU-iinarv College at Indianapolis, 
where he mafle a hrilliant recoril and from which he was graduated with tlie 
class of 1908, He at once came to Newport and opened an fjftice and Jiere 
he has since been successfully engaged in the practice, having met with en- 
couraging success from the first and he has now built up a large and lucrative 
patronage with the surrounding country, many of his patrons coming from 
remote localities. On T'ebruarx- 21, 1910, he went to Ciraham's Scientific 
School of Breeding and was graduated therefrom the same year, this well 
known institution being located in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Dr. Sherrill has been twice married, first in 1902, to Miss Leona Hedge, 
of Boone county, Indiana, by whom he had one child. Clifton Francis Sher- 
rill, born in 1903, and who now lives in Indianapolis, where he is attending 
school. Mrs. Sherrill, who was born in 1SS2. died in i(;oS. In 1912 
Dr. Sherrill was married to Clendore .Vewlin. daughter i>\ Alfred R. 
and Elvira ( Hutson) Newlin. The father was born in Montezuma. I'arke 
county, Indiana. March 30. 1832, the son of Kli and .Mary (Edwards) New- 
lin. Elvira Newlin was born April 20, 1830, and died on .\ugust 27,. 1906. 
Eli Newlin was born in North Carolina, fmm which state be came tn In- 
diana in 1828, locating in Vermillion county. His family consi.sted nf four 
children: Zerilda, born in 1829. died in 1830: \'erena, the eldest, was born 
August. 23, 1S26, died on January 12. 1873: .\ltred R.. f.ither of Mrs. Sher- 
rill; and Harriet E.. born March 13. 1834, died ()<iolKr 17, 1835. The 
birth of Eli Newlin occurred on March 6, 1804, and he died on July 30, 
1872; his wife was born on December 17. 1806. and died on April 18. 1886. 
Eli Newlin was a farmer in North Carolina in his earl\ life and was sheriff 
of Vermillion county, where he continued farming. He became justice ol 
the peace, which position he held for many years, being known here U) all 
as Squire Newlin. 

Ten children were born to Alfred R. Newlin and wife. namcl> : El- 
vira and Elmira. twins, the former born October 26, 1852. and the latter 
October 27, 1852; Mary F., born June 9. 1853, died .Vovember 20. t86i ; 
Margaret .A., born November 21. 1856. died -\i>ril 7. 1893: I'inettie. burn 
June 14, 1858, died July 26, 1894; Eli, born September (\ i860, died De- 
cember 23, 1862: Joseph A,, born February 23, 1864; Lewis A., bom De- 
cember 2/. 1865: Robert A., born NovemlK-r 12, i86(): Clendore, wife of 
Dr. Sherrill. born March 4, 1874. was the tenth and youngest child. 

Alfred R. Newlin devoted his life to general farming and stock rais- 
ing. In 1896 he moved to Newport from \'ermillion townshij). where he 



74U PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

had long maintained his home. He is spending the last years of his life in 
retirement. Politically, he is a Democrat, but never aspired to office. 

Dr. Sherrill is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 242, at 
Newport. He belongs to the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association. 



J. F. SKIDMORE. 

The Skidmore family is too well known in Vermillion county to need 
any formal introduction to the readers of this history, for they have been 
active in the affairs of this locality for a period of ninety-three years, having 
been among the very earliest settlers of this section of the Wabash valley, 
and here they did their full share in the work of transforming the wilderness 
into one of the choice agricultural regions of the Hoosier state, and they also 
laid the foundation for ci\ic and moral progress, being people of high ideals 
and honorable character. 

One of the best known members of this sterling old family is J. F. 
Skidmore, an enterprising farmer near Newport, who was born in Helt 
township, Vermillion county, Indiana, January 29, 1857, the son of William 
^I. and Amelia W. ( Anderson) Skidmore, the father having been the first 
male white child born in Vermillion county, his birth occurring in 1819. He 
grew up amid early pioneer conditions and much hard work fell to him, in 
the way of clearing and developing the wild land. The family endured 
many privations and hardships, for there were no improvements, no roads, 
bridges, nearby trading posts or even neighbors, but they were hardy sons 
of the soil and could not be daunted by hardships. Here the father of the 
subject spent his life engaged, in general farming and stock raising and school 
teaching, becoming one of the leading citizens of Helt township. He was 
joint representative of Vigo and Vermillion counties in 1868 to 1872. His 
death occurred here on May 27. 1881. The mother of the subject was born 
in Posey county, Indiana, and her death occurred in 1890 in Helt town- 
ship. To these parents six children were born, all still living but one, who 
died in infancy. The father was a Republican. 

J. F. Skidmore grew up on the home farm and there assisted with the 
general work. He received his education in the public schools, and he has 
ma4e fanning his life work, with the exception of a year and a half, when 
he operated a butcher shop at Dana. In 1900 he moved to his fine farm of two 
hundred and eighty acres, two hundred of which is under cultivation and 



PARKE AXn \I:R^[II.I.I0X COrXTlKS, INDIANA. -4 1 

well improved, and here he is still carrying on general fanning and stocl< 
raising in a manner that brings him a comfortable competency. He makes a 
specialty of raising black Angus cattle, which, owing to their superior qual- 
it}-, find a very ready market ; also makes a specialty of Ohio Improved 
Chester hogs, which are greatly admired by all who see them. He has made 
many extensive impro\'ements on his farm of late years and has a commod- 
ious and pleasant home three and one-half miles from Newport. He has 
made all by hard work and .good management, with no outside aid. 

Mr. Skidmore was married in i8S8 to Susan K. Reed, daughter of 
Franklin E. and Elisa A. (Ingall) Reed. The father was born in North 
Carolina, from which state he came north with his father when young and 
followed farming in Illinois, just west of St. Bernice. Three children have 
been born to the subject and wife, namely: .Amelia A., who married Henry 
Starr, is living on the home place of William Skidmore: Dorothy M. is at 
home : and Archie is deceased. 

Politically, Mr. Skidmore is a Republican, and he was on the advisory 
board one term. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and is a member of the Horsethief Detective Association. He be- 
longs to the Friends church. 



MELVIN L. HALL, M. D. 

The name of Dr. Alelvin L. Hall, of Newport, Vermillion county, has 
been a household word in the locality of which this volume deals for more 
than a quarter of a century, for while yet a young man he won a wide repu- 
tation in the medical profession and showed what a man of careful mental 
training, honesty of purpose and an abundance of zeal and persistence can 
accomplish, although his early advantages were none too flattering. He 
was naturally endowed with the capacities of the successful practitioner of 
medicine, at least this would be inferred judging from the eminent suc- 
cess he has attained. 

Dr. Hall was born in Vermillion county, Indiana, on May lo, 1846, 
the .scion of a sterling pioneer family, the son of W. R. and Nancy (Jor- 
don) Hall, the father having been born in \'ivginia in 17^8 and the mother 
in Kentucky, each representing excellent old Southern families. They came 
to Vermillion county, this state, in the early days of its settlement and here 
established the permanent home of the family, devoting the rest of their lives 



742 PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COUNTIES. INDIANA. 

to general farming. Thirteen children were born ti) them, four of whom are 
still Hving, namely: Samuel J., who resides in A'ermillion township, this 
county; Emanda was next in order; J. W. is a traveling salesman and makes 
his home in Kansas; and Dr. Melvin L. of this sketch. 

Dr. Hall grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted with 
the general work when a boy. After passing through the public schools in 
his home community he entered Wabash College. Crawfordsville, Indiana, 
where he remained one year, then began the study of medicine at home, which 
he continued a year, then entered the Kentucky School of ^Medicine at Louis- 
ville, where he remained six months. He then began practicing, which he 
continued five years, following which he went to New York Citv and en- 
tered Bellevue Hospital, the noted medical college of that place, where he re- 
mained until his graduation in March, 1876. He soon afterward returned 
to Newport. Indiana, and has since been successfully engaged in general 
practice here, having enjoyed a large and lucrative patronage, and taking 
a position in the first rank of medical men in this section of the state; how- 
ever, now that old age has begun to advance on him he has curtailed his 
practice to a few old families that have always engaged his serxices. having 
begun to gradually retire from the active duties of life. 

Dr. Hall was married in 1895 to Ella P. Parrett, daughter of John W. 
and Lydia (Zenor) Parrett, old settlers in Vermillion county. ]\[r. Parrett 
is of English descent. He has spent his life in the ministry of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church and in farmin.g. The union of the subject and wife 
has been without issue. 

Politically, the Doctor is a Republican. He belongs to the State Medi- 
cal Society and the American Medical Association, and was formerly a 
member of the National Medical Association, and for fifteen years he 
served very ably and acceptably as city health officer of Newport. Frater- 
nally, he belongs to the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Mrs. Dr. Hall is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of finely 
improved and valuable land in Vermillion township, this county, which is 
kept rented. The Doctor owns his attractive dwelling at the corner of 
George and Market streets, Newport, also several valuable pieces of prop- 
erty here. 

In 1872 a society was organized, known as the Western Indiana His- 
torical and Scientific Association, and the subject was made the recording 
secretary. Many important subjects, historical and geological and in other 
lines, were investigated during the ten years that the organization held to- 



PARKE AXD VERMILLION COUNTIES, IX1)L\XA. 743 

gether. Dr. Hall is a .stockliolilcr in the Citizens Hank at Xeupori. also a 
stockholder in the First National Bank at Dana, Indiana. He has been 
very successful in a business way and has laid by an ample comi)ctenc\- for 
his declining years. 



C. A. WINTER. 



One ol the worthy native sons of Xerniillion county. Indiana, who has 
made a success in life and has at the same time ui)held the dignity of an 
honored family name and proved himself to be a citizen of proper public 
spirit is C. A. Winter, the present popular postmaster at the town of Eugene. 

Mr. Winter was born in Highland township, A'erniillion county, on Sep- 
tember 18, 1876, and he is a son of William N. and Alice M. (Hain) Win- 
ter. The father was born in this county, to which his father renio\-ed from 
Virginia in an early day. settling at the town of Perrysville. and from that 
time to this the Winters have been prominent in this localit\', which they 
have helped de\elop from a wilderness to its present high state of civiliza- 
tion. The father of the subject grew to manhood here and assisted his father 
in de\eloping the homestead, and he spent the rest of his life successfully 
engaged in general farming, car[)entering, truck and fruit raising. His death 
occurred when his son, C. A., was seven years of age, in I'ebruary, 1883. 
His family consisted of four children, namely: Katie, who married John 
Pottmeyer, of Logansport. Indiana, where he is engaged in the cabinet- 
making business; the second child died in infancy: C. .A., of this review; 
Fred j. moved to Houston, Texas, in 1909, and is engaged in the real estate 
business there. The father of these children was a Republican and was 
very stanch in his support of the party. The Winter faniil\- are Presbyter- 
ians. 

C. A. Winter received a common school education, passing through the 
high school at Perrysville. He began life for himself on the farm, continu- 
ing in that line of endeavor until he removed to the town of luigene in 

1906, where he engaged in the general mercantile business. In November, 

1907, he was appointed postmaster there, and he held that office continuously 
to the present time in a ftianner that has reflected much credit upon his 
abilitv anil integrity and to the eminent satisfaction of the jtenple and the 
department. He is the owner of forty acres of well improved and productive 
land, part of the old farm of his wife's people, and about a year ago he pur- 
chased his present commodious and attractive home, remodeling it exten- 



744 PARKE AND VERMII.LIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

sively, and Ijuilt a new cement porch, and he has a substantial brick dwelling, 
which is neatly furnished. 

In 1901 Mr. Winter was united in marriage to Lizzie Hughes, daugli- 
ter of Hiram and Mary R. (Hudsonpiller) Hughes, her father having been 
one of the old settlers of A'ermillion county, in which [Mrs. Winter was born, 
reared and educated, and here she taught school successfully for a period of 
eight years. One child has been born to our subject and wife. Ruth Winter. 

Politically. Mr. Winter is a Republican and has Ijeen acti\e in the 
ranks, though he votes independently in township and countv affairs. He 
belongs to the Masonic order at Perrvsvillc. 



T. T. SIMPSON. 



Since coming to Vermillion county J. T. Simpson, well known mer- 
chant of Newport, has enjoyed in the fullest measure the public confidence 
because of the honorable methods he has ever followed, and. being the pos- 
sessor of the pleasing manners and obliging nature of the typical Kentuckian. 
he has won and retained a wide circle of friends in this section of Indiana. 

Mr. Simpson was born in Monroe county, Kentucky, November 2, 1872, 
and he is a son of J. C. and Melissa (Bushong) Simpson, both parents na- 
ti\es of the same count}' and state in whicli the subject was born. There 
they grew to maturity, were educated and married, spending their early 
lives there, and in 1886, when their son J. T. was fourteen years old, they 
left the Blue Grass state and moved to Montgomery county, Indiana, and 
engaged in farming. They are now li\ing in the town of Rock\-ille, Parke 
county. A fuller sketch of them appears on another page of this volume. 

J. T. Simpson was reared on the home farm and helped with the work 
about the place when a boy, and he received his education in the public 
schools, principally in Montgomery county. He began life for himself by 
farming, which he followed for a period of ten years, then came to New- 
port, in 1 901. and entered the bakerv business, in which he met with much 
success from the start. This he continued until 1905. when he established 
the store which he has since continued, his store being one of the busiest 
and ])est known in this part of the county. He carries at all seasons a large, 
carefully selected and up-to-date stock of general merchandise and does an 
extensive business with the town and surrounding country, many of his reg- 
ular customers coming from remote distances, for lierc the\' know thev will 



PARKIi AXD VEKMII.I.IOX COUNTIES. INDIANA. 745 

be acconled iinitorni courtesy and honest treatment. Tie carries a six- 
thousand-dullar stock and is well located in the southwest coiner of the pub- 
lic square. 

Mr. Simpson was married on November 2"^, 1901, to Rachael Brown, 
daughter of E. B. and Susan fBrindley) Brown. Mr. Brown was born 
and reared in \>niiillion county and in his earlier life was a farmer, later 
ran a hotel awhile, then was elected treasurer and he served two terms. Dur- 
ing the Civil war he served in the Union army. He is now living retired in 
Newport. Four children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: 
Mary died when two years old ; Garrett B. died in infancy ; Mariam A., who 
was born May 23, 1906. and Thomas C, whose birth occurred on January 
27. 1907. 

Politically. Mr. Simpson is a Republican and has been active in the 
party. He was at one time candidate for sheriff of Vermillion county and 
was defeated by only two votes. 

Fraternally, Mr. Simpson is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Lodge 
No. 242, at Newport, and he is past cliancellor in the same. He is deserving 
of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished in a business way, 
having started in life with little aid from any one. and he has made hon- 
estly and by his own hard work every dollar which is today his. Personally, 
he is a man of splendid physique, six feet six inches tall, well proportioned, 
weighing two hundred and twenty pounds. 



MATTHEW M. SCOTT. 

One of the most prominent ami inlluenti;d citizens of Clinton. Indiana, 
is Matthew M. Scott, whose place in the business life of that community is 
unquestioned, as he is interested in almost every phase of business and has 
made a marked success. He is also a prominent figure in the social and 
political life of Vermillion county, and has gained a reputation for honesty, 
integrity and sober judgment in financial matters that has made him a financial 
adviser for his many friends over that part of the state. 

Mr. Scott is a grandson of Joseph and Rebecca (Crusen) Scott, who 
were well known in southern Indiana. His father. Matthew W. Scott, was 
born in that part of our state on February 17, 1823, and died July 23, 1908. 
His mother is Mary (Mann) Scott, who was born on July 0. li^-'O- She was 
also a native of Indiana, and still lives here, making her home with her 



746 PARKE AXD VERMILLION' COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

daughter, Mrs. John A. Wittermood. Mr. Scott's parents received common 
school educations. His father was a farmer until the last few j'ears of his 
life, when he retired. He had eleven children, seven of whom are still living. 

Matthew M. Scott was born August 12, 1864, in A'ermillion county, 
Indiana, and spent his early life in this county, receiving a common school 
education. He was married October 19, 1898, to Daisy E. Robison. who 
was a lady of good intellectual attainments and a fine education. She was 
born October 10, 1869, and received a common school education, and gradu- 
ated with the first class from the Clinton high school. She was a teacher in 
Clinton for thirteen years, her special work being in the priman,- grades, 
where she was very successful, and she was missed very much when she gave 
up her work. 

Mr. Scott entered into the clothing and gents' furnishing business after 
finishing school, with George W. Edwards, who at that time was postmaster 
at Clinton and Mr. Scott was assistant. They managed their store, which 
was located in the postoffice building in connection with the postoffice, and 
did very well there. In 1889 Matthew M. Scott moved from the postoffice 
building, with the business in which he was a half owner, and later dissolved 
partnership with ^Ir. Edwards and took his brother in with him. Upon the 
death of his brother, Mr. Scott took Ruben C. Martin into the business with 
him under the name of Scott & Martin, and they were very successful up 
until January, 1911, when they sold their business to Ivan W. Scott, who now 
conducts the business. Mr. Scott owns a number of valuable business proper- 
ties in Clinton, among which is the Scott & Martin block, which he built in 
1907. He also owns his home and a number of houses in Clinton, which he 
holds as rental investments. Besides this property, Mr. Scott owns a farm 
seven miles west of Clinton, Indiana. There are about four hundred and 
eighty acres in this farm and most of it is fine tillable soil. He has about 
fifteen hundred rods of tiling and expects to put in more. It is called the 
"Woodland Stock Farm," and is one of the best natural stock farms in the 
western part of Indiana. He has been raising some short horn cattle, but 
is usually interested in general stock raising, at which he has been very suc- 
cessful, 

Mr. Scott has no children and has been able to give a great deal of time 
to the general public, taking an active interest in every movement for im- 
provement in his home city. He is trustee and treasurer of the Presbyterian 
church. He is also a political leader and the Democratic party has made him 
mavor and councilman. I\Ir. Scott is also actively interested in the large 
financial institutions in his city, being one of the directors of the Home Loan 



PAUKE AND \KUMIl.LinX COUNTIKS. INDIANA. 747 

and Savings Association and a director of the Citizens Jlank. wiiicli latter 
position he has held for three years. He has held a responsible place on the 
finance committee of the Home Loan and Savings Association for the last 
fifteen years and up to the present date has not had a single foreclosure. I lis 
sagacity and foresight in all business deals not only makes him a valuable 
man to all the institutions with which he is connected, but has made him one 
of the most popular and highly respected citizens of his county, to which he 
has given the benefits of his high attainments during all these years. It 
means a great deal to a community to boast of such a financier, citizen and 
friend as Mr. Scott, and it is to such men that the country must look for con- 
tinued prosperity. 



CHARLES R. COOPER. 

When we look at the successful men of today, it is found that the major- 
ity of them started in business in a modest wa\- and have gradually built up 
their holdings until they have reached large proportions. Success comes 
more often by hard work and consistent, careful attention than by great 
strokes or lucky fortune. It is men who have succeeded in their own line, 
and have reaped abundant reward for their lalxir, who have done the uKist 
to forward the general welfare in their community. Among those most 
prominent men in Clinton, Vermillion county, Indiana, who ha\e been suc- 
cessful, is Charles R. Cooper, who is interested in the only large saw-mill in 
his county. 

Mr. Cooper is the son of David and Ellen (I'.utcher) Cooper, both 
natives of the .state of Indiana. His father was born near the center of the 
state March 4. 1845. and died in March, 1875. His mother was born July 
27, 1847, ='"'1 '1'^'' '" 1878. David Cooper had a common school education 
and followed the carpenter's trade through his life. He and his wife had 
only the one son, Charles R. Cooper, who was born in Montgomery county, 
Indiana, June 3. 1867, where he received a common school education. 

On March 20, 1888. he married Emma Seward, who was born in 
November, 1867. Mr. Cooper early became interesteil in the saw-mill busi- 
ness, and in 1894 he went into partnershi]) with A. C. Butcher. Their mill 
was small and they started with a very small trade, but they have gradually 
increased in capacity, as their business grew, until now they can turn out 
daily about seven thousand feet of lumber, and they operate the only saw- 
mill in \ermillion county. 



74'*^ PARKE AXD VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Mr. Cooper and his wife are the parents of six children, all of whom 
are at home. There are Maggy, Mary, Maude, Clarence, Charles, Jr., and 
William. The children were all born and educated in Clinton, and it is a 
very happy family that lives in the hunic that Mr. Cooper owns. He also 
owns a number of lots in Clinton, and witli his partner, A. C. Butcher, owns 
the mill and two lots. 

Charles R. Cooper has not only given his careful and consistent attention 
to his own business, but has found time to take an acti\e interest in the social 
and civic life of the communit\". He held the office of councilman for four 
years in Clinton and during that time gave his efiforts to every progressive 
movement which came up. He is still an ardent progressive, and his influ- 
ence is felt and his judgment respected by his friends and neighbors, as he 
has always proved himself an honest and just man in his dealings with his 
fello\v citizens. 



M. B. CARTER. 



The backbone of this country is made up of the families \\hich have 
made their homes through their own lionest and persistent work ; w ho are 
alive to the best interests of the community in which they reside; who are 
so honest that it is no trouble for their neighbors to know it ; who attend 
to their own business and are too busy to attend to that of others: who 
work on steadily from day to day. taking the sunshine with the storm and 
who rear a family to a comfortable home and an honest life. Such people 
are always welcome in any community. They are wealth producers, and 
Vermillion countv is blessed with manv such, among whom is the subject of 
this sketch, son of a pioneer, veteran of the great Ci\il war. and at present 
the popular postmaster at Newport. 

M. B. Carter was born in Highland township. \'ermillion county, In- 
diana, December 27. 1843, and he is a son of Absalom C. and Sidney 
(Chenoweth) Carter. The subject was reared to manhood in his native 
locality and educated in the common schools there : however, his schooling 
was limited, for when but a boy he began working on the farm, and when 
the Civil war came on. although he was but a lad of nineteen years, he en- 
listed in Company B, Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry, in May. 1861, 
about a month after the first call for troops, and he was at once sent with 
the army to the South and took part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shilnh. 
Champion's Hill and the siege of ^^icksburg, and many skirmishes, later 



I'ARKE AND \'KRM 1 il.IO.V COfXTI I'.S. IXDIANA. 749 

came north and fought at the battle of Cedar Creek in \irginia, also Win- 
chester, that state. He proved to be, despite his youth, a faithful and gal- 
lant defender of the Stars and Stripes. He was discharged at Baltimore, 
Maryland, in 1805, after his two terms of enlistment had expired, he hav- 
ing re-enlisted in 1864, '" the same company and regiment. After the war 
he returned home and took up farming, which he followed with much suc- 
cess until 1886, when he moved to his pleasant home in Newport, where 
he has since resided. He was appointed postmaster at this place in 19 12, 
and is at this writing very ably discharging the duties of the office in a man- 
ner that is highly acceptable to the people and the department. Politically, 
he is a Republican. For four years he was county recorder, and he was 
county assessor for six years, filling these offices in a highly creditable 
manner. Fraternally, he is a Mason, and he belongs to the Grand Army 
of the Republic, Shiloh Post No. 249. 

Mr. Carter was married in 1868 to Faimie Mofifet, and this union re- 
sulted in the t)irth of one child, (irace. who married Bird l>a\is. In 1882 
Mr. Carter married Miss Sallie Elbertson, from whom there was no issue. 
In 1888 he married Miss Amanda KerdoUf, by whotn he has one child, 
Fannie, who is assisting her father in the postoffice. Mr. Carter has al- 
was been regarded as one of our most public spirited citizens, lending his 
hearty support to all measures looking to the general good of his county. 



VALZAH REEDER. 



The name of Reeder is one which has been long known in the neighbor- 
hood of Clinton, for the first to bear it in that vicinity was among the early 
settlers. And from the time when the first of the name came here to the pres- 
ent, those who have borne the name have been men of honor and integrity, 
women of virtue and goodness, always doing their part to help in the com- 
munity, and their lives have been examples of the substantial worth among 
citizens whose positions in life have not been such as to make them very 
widely known, or to gain them high applause, but who form the solid founda- 
tion upon which all the superstructure of our civilization is built and without 
whom our present greatness could not exist. 

Valzah f-ieeder was born on Septeml)er 9. 1870. the son of J. Wesley and 
Elizabeth Ann ^ Smith) Reeder. His grandfather. Nelson Reeder, was a. 
native of Ohio, who came to this county when a small lad. with his i)arents. 



750 PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

and liere spent the remainder of his life. His father. J. Wesley Reeder. was 
born on August 26, 1845, and has spent all his life in Clinton township, and 
now resides in Clinton. His mother was born in \'irginia on July 4, 1848. 
Both his parents received no more than a common school education. Their 
family consisted of five children. The subject was born in Clinton township 
and there spent his early life on a farm. He attended grammar school and 
spent one and a half years in high school. 

Valzah Reeder was married on October 20, 1892, to Minnie Kerr. She 
bore to him two children, John W., now nineteen years old, and Amelia, who 
died at the age of nine months. Minnie Reeder passed from this life on 
October 6. 1896. after a little less than four years of wedded life. On Janu- 
ary 6, 1898, Mr. Reeder was married to Olive I. Gosnell, a native of Clinton 
township. She is the mother of three children, Fred Nelson, \"an and Ruth. 

Mr. Reeder owns forty-six acres of land and, with his brother, owns one 
hundred and ninety-one acres, all in Clinton township. They carry on gen- 
eral stock farming, which they find profitable. In politics Mr. Reeder is a 
Republican, and he is nov>- township trustee, having satisfactorily filled the 
office for three years. Before that time he was deputy assessor under \\'. 
William Pugh, the present assessor, and in all his ofticial relations he has 
uniforniiv made friends of the people of the township by his methods of 
dealing with them. Mr. Reeder is a Mason, a member of the commandery. 
and is also an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. He is a young man who 
has made good, and whose future, judging from his past, will be that of a 
man of the highest usefulness to his community. 



REV. ALBERT C. BUTCHER. 

The life of Albert C. Butcher, well known resident of Clinton, Indiana, 
has resulted in much good to his fellow men, for while laboring for his own 
advancement he has never neglected his duties to others. He believes the 
duty of everyone while passing through this world is to do all the good he 
can, help his neighbors who are in need of succor of any kind, and thereby 
one will be strengthened for his own battle. 

Mr. Butcher was born on September 17, 1858, in Putnam county, Indi- 
ana, and there he grew to manhood and received a good common school edu- 
cation. He is a son of Joe and Lina (Sailor) Butcher, the father a native of 
Kentucky, from which state he removed to Indiana when about twelve years 



I'AKKK AND VKKM 11,1, ION CO TX TIES, IXDIA.VA. 75 I 

of age and he spent the rest of his Hfe in this state. After his death his wife 
removed to Missouri, where she died. They were the parents of fourteen 
children, eight of whom are still living. The father was a millwright by 
trade. Political)}-, he was a Republican. Clark Butcher, the subject's 
paternal grandfather, lived in Kentucky. Grandfather Sailor was a native 
of Germany, from which country he came to the United States when voung 
in years. 

Albert C. Butcher was married on March 8. 1876, to Ellen llenkel, who 
was born on March 29, 1859, in Putnam county, Indiana, where she grew to 
womanhood and received a common school education. She was a daughter 
of Joe and Elizabeth (Sullivan) Henkel. She died on March 4, 1891. and 
on February 24. 1893, Mr. Butcher was united in marriage to Ida Parmer, 
who was horn in ^Montgomery county, Imliana, and lier death occurred on 
August 14, 1906. Mr. Butcher's third marriage occurred on .\pril 7. T907, 
to Ella Norton, who was born in Tennessee on January 12. 1891, the daughter 
of James and Sarah (Day) Norton. She received a common school educa- 
tion. Air. Butcher is the father of twelve children, eleven of whom are still 
living, namely: Mattie, Elma, Delia, .\aron. Lena. Xora. Minnie. Homer, 
William, Ruth, Godfrey and Ora. and an adopted son. James Long Butcher. 

Starting in life as a farmer, by hard toil Mr. Butcher soon forged ahead 
financially. In 1901 he came to Clinton and purchased a lialf interest in the 
saw-mill owned bv his brother James, the remaining interest Ijeing later 
bought by C. R. Cooper and himself, who still run the business under the firm 
name of Butcher & Cooper. When he came to Clinton Mr. Butcher purchased 
propertv and erected a residence on the banks of the Wabash river. .\ few 
years later he erected a large and commodious residence in Fairview Park, 
which was soon afterwards destroyed by fire. He is now the owner of a 
store at h'airview Park, and the saw-mill and other projjcrty. all of which he 
has won bv persevering efi'orts and soimd business methods, so that now he is 
enjoying a substantial income. 

Upon locating in Clinton. Mr. Butcher l^gan to preach in the church of 
the United Brethren in Christ, in which denomination he had been ordained 
a minister three years previously. The congregations to which he preached 
in Clinton were composed mostly of those not familiar with church walls, 
and among them he worked with definite results. As his congregation in- 
creased, he conceived the idea of forming a new sect, where fashion and style 
should not be the standard of a member's worth. So the new church was 
launched, officers elected and a discipline promulgated for the government 
of the church. The subject is now bishop of this denomination and his work 



752 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

has been blessed with splendid results. The church continues to grow and 
now possesses many thousands of dollars in property. He is a preacher of 
more than ordinary abilit\- and has been popular witli all congregations where 
he has labored. 

Mr. Butcher is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at 
Clinton. Politically, he is a Progressive, as might be expected, for he be- 
lieves in the world moving forward, laying aside the old and unsound and 
assuming the new and sound. 



WILLlAAl COX, SR. 



One of the leading farmers and citizens of Parke county is William 
Cox, Sr., a man whom the entire community trusts and respects, for his long 
life of honor and usefulness speaks for itself. 

Mr. Cox is the owner of a finely impro\ed and productive farm of three 
hundred and thirty acres, which he keeps well tilled and on which he carries 
on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He has a pleas- 
ant home and attractive surroundings. Mr. Cox was born on April 24, 1844, 
near Owensburg, Greene county, Indiana, and he is a son of John B. and 
Mary (Mayfield) Cox. The father was born in North Carolina, and. in 1S26, 
when seven years old, his parents brought him to Lawrence coimty, Indiana, 
and there he grew to manhood and received his education in the common 
schools, and early in life took up farming. In 1856 he came to Parke county, 
locating near Rockville, and there reared his family, which consisted of the 
following children: William, of this review: Sarah J. and ]\Iary E. are de- 
ceased : John T. : Clara, deceased : Oscar : Caroline, deceased : Anna. Cora 
and Homer. 

William Cox, Sr., came to Parke county with his father and the rest of 
the familv in 1856 and here he grew to manhood on the home farm, where 
he assisted with the general work, and he received his education in the com- 
mon schools. Early in life he turned his attention to general farming and this 
he has always carried on with ever-increasing success. He proved his patriot- 
ism and courage when only eighteen years old by enlisting in Company G. 
Seventy-first Regiment, Sixth Cavalry, and he served with much faithfulness 
and credit in defense of the Union in its titanic struggle with the hosts of re- 
bellion. He participated in the battle at Richmond. Kentucky, in which his 
regiment lost all of its field officers. Then Jones Biddle was appointed colonel. 




WILLIAM COX, SR. 



I'ARKE AND \' KKM 1 1 .l.ln.N' COl'NTIKS, INDIANA. 753 

.Mr. L'ox was promoted to second lieutenant before the close of the war. After 
serving three years in a most creditable manner Mr. Cox was honorably dis- 
charged, anil mustered out at I'ulaski, Tennessee, June 17, 1865. He had 
seen much hard service and suffered the horrors of prison lite, having been 
captured in Georgia by the Confederates and confined for some time in 
Andersonville Prison at Florence, South Camlina. 

Alter the war Air. Cox returned home and resumed farming, ami in 1868 
he was united in marriage to I'huebe Lewis, and to them three children lia\e 
been born, naniel_\- ; Amberzilla, who married J. W. Crouch, and the_\' ha\-e 
six children, Irene. Irma, Paul, Lewis, Marie and Jriaroid. Winnie Cox mar- 
ried Henry Ciilfoy. and they have five children, Lucile. Raymond. Lena, Will- 
iam l'bili|i and Lewis \\'a\'ne. .S\'lvia Cox married (). I!. Lliilli])s, ami these 
children ha\-e been born to them, Mary, Ji'hn, Robert. William, .Martha and 
Margaret. 

Mr. Cox is an interested member of the (jrand Army nf the Republic 
and is active in the affairs of the local post. Religiously, he is a member of the 
Christian church, which he liberally supports. The Cox family has stood high 
in this localitx- e\er since they located here o\er a half century ago and during 
that period the\- have done much toward the general development of the 
\-icinitv. 



ROBERT E. nCIXX. 

It has truly been said that in America no one need lack for education who 
really desires it, and this is i)roved by the exami)le of Mr. Guinn. Having 
received somewhat limited adxantages in his youth, after farming tor sexeral 
years, he took up the study of law by correspondence and. perse\ering in his 
self-set task, in a comparatively short time he fitted himself for the practice 
of this profession, in which he has met with a reasonable and well-deserved 
success and has established himself as a man of honor and integrity. 

Robert E. Guinn is the son of Matthew and Eliza (Cook) Guinn. His 
grandfather, William Guinn, was an early settler of Kentucky, where he 
passed the remainder of his life. His father was born in Kentucky, on 
September 16. 1821, and died nii September 13. i8q8. having lived within 
one day of seventv-seven vears. His mother was born in Kentucky and died 
in September. 1880. Both father and mother were so situated in youth that 
they had limited advantages in schooling. They spent their lives in farni- 
(48) 



754 PARKE AND VERMILLIOX COTXTIES, IXDIAXA. 

ing, and were well respected in whatever conimunit}' the}- lived. Of their 
fourteen children, six are now living. 

Roliert E. Guinn was born in Putnam county, Indiana, on December 21, 
1871. He attended the common schools, then, at his maturit}", went to Illi- 
nois and took up farming. In 1899 he came to Clinton and began the study 
of law by correspondence. In 1908 he acti\-el_\' took u]) the practice of law. 
devoting to it liis whole time. For four years before taking up the practice 
of law he had served as justice of the peace and was afterwards appointed 
deputy prosecuting attorney for his county. He is now again serving as 
justice of the peace and his decisions and methods of trying cases are com- 
mended by the bar of Clinton. 

In November, 1892, Mr. Guinn was married to Mary E. Delaney. who 
was born in Illinois in July. 1876, and received a common school education 
there. To this marriage were born seven children, Floyd, the oklest of whom, 
was eighteen in March, 1912. The remaining children are Lloyd E., Goldie 
Edith, Robert Pearl, Kenneth. Charles Harrison and Harold Franklin, and 
they form an interesting and attractive family. Mr. Guinn owns a handsome 
and conveniently appointed home in Clinton. In politics he is a Progressive, 
his religious affiliations are with the Methodist church, and fraternally he is 
a member of the Modern Woodmen, the Owls, and the Junior Order of 
United American Mechanics. He is well known in Clinton and Vermillion 
county, and is looked upon as one of the rising and promising citizens of that 
community. 



GUY H. BRIGGS. 



There are few men in \'ermillion county whose years number no more 
than those of the subject of this sketch, who can point to as many achieve- 
ments as his record discloses. He began as a farmer on a small scale on a 
rented farm, saved his earnings, bought land and prospered, entered the con- 
tracting business, in which his high executive ability enabled him to carry out 
successfully and profitably all his undertakings, and now he ranks among the 
foremost citizens of Vermillion county, than whom no one is better known. 
He is yet but a young man. scarcelv in the prime of life, and the promise of 
his earlier life is that his future years will continue to be years of usefulness 
to his community. 

Guy H. Briggs was born on October 9, 1874. in Vigo county. Indiana. 
His education was received in the common schools and his boyhood was spent 



PARKE AM) VKKMII.I.IO.V COUNTIES, INDIANA. 7^5 

on tlie farm, w here liis ol)servant nature led him to learn many lessons which 
were lost on many of his fellows less acute of perception. He farmed until 
his marriage, on December 15, 1895, to Theresa A. Reeder, the daughter of 
J. W'. Reeder. She was Ixirn on October 7, 1S7J. and recei\e(l an education 
similar to that of Mr. r>ris.;gs. The young couple went to housekeeping in 
a two-room cottage on a rentetl farm south of Clinton, on which they lived 
as renters for siN years, at the end of which time thcv purchased the farm. 
Now Mr. Briggs owns three hundred acres of land in Vigo county, two hun- 
dred of which are tillable, one hundred and seventy acres in Clinton townshi]i. 
Vermillion count}', and one hundred and thirt\'-ti\e acres in Eugene township, 
Vermillion county, besides several smaller tracts, making bis total holdings 
aggregate more than six hundred acres. For several years Mr. Briggs has 
been engaged as a railroad and gravel road contractor in Park and X'ermillion 
counties and had a contract for goods for the Tuberculosis Hospital. The 
last two years he has devoted his time largel\- to the real estate Inisiness, and 
has shown himself as well adapted to this as to the other businesses with 
which he has been connected. 

Mr. and Mrs. Briggs are the parents of two children, llcrl)erl Ray, horn 
in lune, 1897, who is now in the third year of high school at the age of fifteen, 
and Ruth Marie, born in Februar}-. 1906. 

Mr. Briggs now lives in Clinton, in one ot the most attractive homes in 
the county, and he also owns a beautiful country home designed in the colonial 
style. His fraternal affiliations are man\-, for he is a memlxr of the Masons, 
the Mystic Shriners, the Elks, Odd Fellows, Kni.ghts of Pythias, Redmen. 
Modern Woodmen and Lions, takes an active part in all, and is well known 
fraternally in his own and neighboring counties. In ])olitics he is a Repub- 
lican, and has served four years as trustee of his township, giving general 
satisfaction. Mr. Briggs is a jovial and entertaining com|)anion socially, 
and these qualities have added to his popularity among those who know him. 



ALLEN FRAZER. 



It is signally consonant that in this work l)e incorporated at least a brief 
resume of the life and labors of .Mien l-'razer, who has long been one of the 
influential citizens of \'ermillion township — in fact, was born here and has 
spent his life in this community, being a connecting link between the present 
and the pioneer period in which he spent his childhood and of which he has 



J^G I'ARKE AXD VERMILLION COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

many interesting reminiscences. Throngii liis efforts his community lias 
reaped lasting benefits, for his public spirit and exceptional business capacity 
have been directed along lines calculated to be for the general good. A man 
of forceful individuality and marked initiative power, he has been \\d\ 
equipped for leadership in his comnumity, while his probity of character and 
his genial personalit}-. obliging nature and common charitableness have won 
the good will and esteem of all who know him. 

Mr. Frazer was born in the township and county where he is still living 
on June ii. 1847, and he is a son of William and Elizabeth (Xorris) Frazer. 
The father was born in Xorth Carolina in 181 5. and the mother was born in 
Whitewater. Indiana. William Frazer came to Indiana when he reached his 
majority, and located in Vermillion county, among the early settlers, estab- 
lishing the permanent home of the family in \'ermillion township. He was 
a carpenter by trade, which he followed in connection w itli farming, ha\ing" 
entered some prairie land here. He built many of the first homes in this sec- 
tion of the state. 

Ten children were born to William Frazer and wife, namely : Felix is 
deceased ; Alex is living in Dana, this county ; Allen, of this sketch ; Wehin, 
now living on the home place; Caroline is still living; Emeline, Albert. 
Johnnie are all deceased ; Ann was next in order ; Olive is living at Morton- 
ville, and Indiana was the youngest. William Frazer was a Rei)ublican. His. 
death occurred in 1872, and his wife died in 1901. 

.\llen Frazer grew to manhood on the home farm and received a common 
school education. He began life as a farmer and, with the exception of four 
years when he worked in a saw-mill, has always followed general farming 
and stock raising. He has also done some carpenter work. He is the owner 
of one hundred sixty-nine and one-half acres in Vermillion township, which 
he has brought up to a high state of impro\ement and cultivation, hav'ing 
made all the improvements himself. He has made a specialty of raising 
Poland Ihina and Berkshire hogs and short horn cattle, and owing to the 
superior cjuality of his live stock they have ever found a \er\- ready market. 
He has a good residence and substantial outbuildings. 

Mr. Frazer was married in December. 1872, to :^Iandy Merriman, daugh- 
ter of Manson and Julia Ann (Sears) Merriman. Her father was an old 
settler of Tennessee, coming to \>rmillion townshi]), this county, in an early 
day and here followed farming. He and his wife are both now deceased. 
Three children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: The first 
died in infancv; Ura married J. Agra, and they live in Xewport; James mar- 



I'AKKK AM) VKKMII.I.ION COL"XTIi:S, IXHIAXA. -J-^-j 

ried Carrie Nicliols, and he is I'arniino- in N'ermiliion township. Mrs. Fra/er 
died on Xovember 15, 1892. 

Mr. Frazer is an ardent Republiean and he was eonimis.sioner of his 
county in 1903, giving entire satisfaction to all concerned. 



R. A. ALLEN. 



Among the successful business men in ClintiMi, Vermillion county, Indi- 
ana, R. .\. Allen, the foremost lumberman in that part of the county. 
ranks high as a man of ability, keen business judgment and uncpiestioned hon- 
esty and integrity. He started in business modestly and by his industry and 
determination has helped to build up a large business, and. as his education 
has been obtained through ])ractical experience, he knows each department 
of the company's affairs and is able to understand the ])oint of view of those 
whom he employs. 

Mr. Allen was born August 20. 1851. in Vermillion county, Indiana. 
His parents were Alanson H. and Margaret (Fleming) .Mien. His father 
was l)orn in Indiana in 1827, and died here June 28, 1854. His mother was 
a native of Ohio, born January 5, 1834, and died February 2, 1902. Both 
of his parents received common school educations. His father was a saw- 
miller, and was highly respected in his community. .Manson W. and M;ir- 
garet Allen had two children, but R. A. Allen is the only one surviving. After 
R. A. Allen finished his education in the common schools he wanted to go 
out into the business world and learn its ways from the \ery beginning. I le 
started to work as a clerk, but only remained in this position for a few years. 
On December 18, 1889, Mr. Allen married Lu Martin, who was born in 
Putnam county, Indiana, on September 28. 185^). They have no children. 

Soon after he was married R. A. .Mien entered the lumber business and 
ran the yard for Whitcomb & Company. In 1904 he bought them f.ut, with 
T. C, Martin as his partner, and the>- have been very successful. When the\ 
started Mr. Allen and Mr. Martin carried on their business in a coujile of 
small open sheds. As they became liettcr known and their business grew 
ihey had need of greater facilities, and in 19H they built their present busi- 
ness plant, a brick structure one hundred and thirty-two feet by one hundred 
and fifty-nine feet, with an office building besiiles. They can nt)w carry in 
stock about two hundred thousand feet of lumber, .\sidc from lumber, they 
handle all kinds of building material, including plaster, lime and everyihing 



75^ PARKE AND \'EKMII,LIOX COrXTIES, IXniANA. 

that is needed in tlieir coniniunity along that line. There are only two other 
lumber yards besides their own and they furnish lumber and building ma- 
terials for that part of the county. The business is now on a solid paying- 
basis and both Mr. Martin and Mr. Allen feel rewarded for their work. 

R. A. Allen has also taken an active part in the social and political life 
of Clinton. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at 
Clinton and of the Christian church. Mr. Allen is an ardent Democrat, and 
though he has always been deeply absorbed in his lousiness and has held no 
office, he has always afforded his party great aid in using his influence to sup- 
port it. Mr. Allen owns his home in Clinton, Indiana, as well as three 
rental properties and several lots. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres 
of land in Greeley county, Kansas. He has earned every step of his way to 
success and richly deserves it, and all along his way he has done his best for 
the good of those around him. Clinton may well be proud of his achieve- 
ments. 



ROBERT HARRISON. 

Among the wealthy, retired fanners now making their homes in Clin- 
ton, Vermillion county, Indiana, is Robert Harrison, a native of Virginia 
and heir to the blue blood, loyalty to opinions, and courage in standing for 
the right with which the oldest state in the Union seems to endow her chil- 
dren. Though born in \'irginia, Mr. Harrison has long been a loyal 
Hoosier, and is now one of the most highly respected citizens and prominent 
men in Clinton. 

His father was Benjamin Harrison, who was born in Virginia on Febru- 
ary 8, 1805, and died in Indiana on February 8, 1897, on his ninety-second 
birthday. His mother was also a native of Virginia, being born in that 
state on January 19, 1806. She died in Indiana in 1882. His parents came 
to Indiana shortly after they were married, believing that a broader field 
of work and richer rewards lay in what was then considered the West. His 
father settled on a farm in Vermillion county and was a very successful 
farmer. His friends and neighbors recognized the honesty and justice of 
,Mr. Harrison and he was soon a leader in his community. He was made 
jiistice of peace and held that position for forty years, never being out of 
office. The justice of his decisions may be appreciated by the fact that no 
case that he decided was reversed when taken to a higher court. 

Robert Harrison's mother was Jane Anne Bright, and she and her hus- 



PARKE AND \ERMII.LION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 759 

band liad tliirleen children, six of whom are still lix-iny. Robert was lx)rn 
in \"irginia, October ii, 1831, and was one year old when his parents moved 
to Indiana. He was educated in the best common schools then offered b)' 
the state, which were very meagre, and spent his early boyhood on the farm. 

On i'"el)niary (>. 1S55, Robert Harrison married Elizabeth Fisher. She 
was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, June 2^, 1833, but was early brought 
to this state and spent her youth in Vermillion county. She is the daughter 
of James and Elizabeth (Briscoe) Fisher. 

After his marriage, Mr. Harrison became interested in farming on his 
own account and lived on his farm in \^ermillion county for about sixteen 
years. He is now retired, having sold his sixty-six acres of land to his 
grandson, and is now living on his income, though still managing all of his 
own affairs. He and his wife are the parents of five children: Benjamin 
married Clara Ockerman, and they li\e five miles north of Clinton, in Helt 
township, Vermillion county ; James married Josephine Chun, and he is a 
mail carrier in Denver, Colorado; Annabelle is the wife of G. R. Hopkins 
and lives on a farm two miles west of Clinton; Jane Ann married Sherman 
Bullock, w ho is in the hardw are business in Terre Haute, Indiana : Briscoe 
married Cora Sparks, and lives in Clinton. 

Mr. Harrison is \ery comfortably fixed in Clinton, owning his own home 
and a couple of rentals. He is a leader, both socially and politically. He is 
a Republican and has always been a credit to his party. 



WALTER G. PHINXEV. 

This aige might properly be called the electrical age, and the man who 
is an accomplished electrician holds a prominent place wherever he niay go. 
Because of this fact Walter G. I'hinney has quickly established himself in 
Clinton and rni\ersal, Indiana. As he is eager for im])ro\enicnt along all 
lines, and is willing to work for any movement which means progress for his 
community, he has taken his place among the leading men in that part of 
Indiana, and holds an important place in the great Bunsen system which is 
giving the country the lienefit of the coal fields in Vermillion countw 

Walter G. Phinney is the son of Frank E. and Rosa .\. (Simons) i'hin- 
ney. His father was born March 31, 1862. in Ma.ssachu setts.' At the ftge 
of fifteen he moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, where he is still living. He is 
now the head bolt maker fnr the X'andalia Kailniad Company in tliat oitv. 



y()0 PARKE AXU VERMIIJ.IOX COLXTIES. IXDIANA. 

Rosa A. I'hinney was born December 12, 1863. in Illinois, and is still living. 
Both of his parents enjoyed the benefit of a common school education. They 
had two children, but Walter G. is the only one li\ing. He was born .\ugust 
18, 1882, at Centralia, Illinois, ^nd had a common school education. .\t the 
age of thirteen }ears, seventeen years ago, he started on his electrical career, 
beginning sweeping at the Kester Electric Company, Terre Haute, Indiana. 
He worked there for three years, and then left because the per.sonnel of the 
company was not harmonious. 

August 18, 1906, Mr. Phinney married Eva Park, who was a native of 
Illinois, being born in that state November 15, 1881. They have had no' 
children, and JMr. Phinney has applied himself primarily to his profession, 
and has become an expert in his line. \\'^hen he went to Terre Haute, Indi- 
ana, he took a position with the Vandalia Railroad Company as an electrician 
in the shops at that place, and was promoted gradually through his industry 
and natural adaption until he held a \'ery high position with that C(jmpany. 
He was chief electrician of the St. Louis terminal for the Vandalia Rail- 
road Compan\-, where he remained three years, going there the year before 
the World's Fair and staying there a year after the exhibition was over, Mr. 
Phinney wired the postal car on the exhibition in the government building. 
During this time he was also running a private business of his own in Terre 
Haute, Indiana. Soon after this he came to Universal, Indiana, and bung 
the first piece of wire with the Bunsen Coal Company. Mr. Phinney is now 
in charge of all the electric wires at the two mines. He has two machine 
bosses, two wiremen on the bottom, and one wire man on the top work- 
ing for him, and his work has been very efficient. 

.Mr. Phinnev has not allowed himself to Ix^conie narrow and entirely 
absorbed in his work, however, and is interested in all the political and social 
questions which come before the country. He is identified with the Knights 
of Pythias, of which he is a past chancellor. He is a Mason, and member 
of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights and Ladies of Honor, 
besides the Brotherhood of Electric Workers and the Miners Union. Mr. 
Phinnev was the manager of the Boys Brigade in Terre Haute in i8cj6. He 
is a member of the Baptist church. Having a keen interest in the cpiestions 
wliich the countrv is facing at this time. Mr. Piiinney carefully studied the 
Progressive platform, and is now identified with that party. He is the type 
of man whose service to the community in which he lives is practical and 
effective, and he is highly respected in his community. He lives in a modern 
six-room house at the company's plant at Universal. 



PARKE AND \"F.K.\IILL10X COl'NTIKS. INDIANA. J()l 

ISAAC D. WHITE, M. D. 

Good intellectual training, thorough professional knowledge and the 
possession and utilization of the qualities and attributes essential to success. 
have made Dr. Isaac D. White, of Clinton, Vermillion county, eminent in his 
chosen calling, and he stands today among the enterprising and successful 
physicians in a community noted for its high order of medical talent, while 
at the same time he has won the confidence and esteem of the people of this 
locality for his upright life and genial disposition. 

Isaac D. White was born in Jackson township, Parke count\'. Indiana, 
August 25, 1872. He is the son of Joseph E. and Eliza (Huckinsi White, 
the father a natixe of Pennsylvania and the mother of England, from which 
country she came to the United States when young, and married Mr. White 
upon reaching maUiritx'. They spent the latter part of their lives in Parke 
covmty, Indiana. Iwtli being now deceased. They were hard working, highly 
res])ectcd peojjlc and well liketl in their neighliorhood. Thev became the par- 
ents of ten children, only three of whom are now living. 

Dr. ^^'hite was reared at Lena, near Greencastle. Indiana, where he 
received liis primary education in the common schools. This was supple- 
mented bv a course in the Indiana State Normal School al Tcrre Haute, from 
which institution he was graduated with the class of 1899. He then entered 
the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, from which he was graduated 
in 1904. having made an excellent record. He subsequently took a post- 
.graduate course at tlie Presbyterian Hos]iital of New N'ork City, and also 
had some hospital work in Boston. Thus excejitionally well (pialitied for his 
chosen life work, he returned to his native state and opened an office at Clin- 
ton, where he has since been engaged in the general practice, having been 
successful from the first and he now has a large .md lucrati\e piactice extend- 
ing over a wide territory. 

Dr. White was married on September 7. 1907. to Bessie Louise Daller. 
daughter of'.Mlx-rt Daller. a highly respected family of Indianapolis. To 
this union three children have been born, namely: Robert D.. lH)ni June 22, 
i()o8: Laura X'irginia. born Xo\ember T2. 1900; Joseph Raymond, born 
December 25, 191 1. 

Dr. White is a member of the Vigo County Medical Society, the Clinton 
Medical Society, the State Medical Society, and the .\merican Medical .\s- 
snciation. Fraternally, he l>elongs to the i'"raternal Order of Eagles, the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen at Clinton and the Benev- 
olent and Protective Order of Elks at Tcrre Haute. Politically, he is a 



7*^'- PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Democrat and has been loyal in his support of party principles. He is at 
this writing incumbent of the office of county coroner and is discharging the 
duties of the same in a manner that reflects much credit upon his ability and 
to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. 



REN M. WHITE. 



The life of this \enerable and highly respected citizen and soldier has 
been led along lines of honorable and useful endeavor and has resulted in the 
accomplishment of much good, not only to himself, but to those with whom 
he has been associated. He has seen the development of Vermillion, his native 
county, and has taken an active part in it, consequenth- in his old age he can 
look back over a life well spent and for which he should have no regrets. 

Ren M. White was born in Kelt township, Vermillion county, Indiana, 
January 31, 1841, and is a son of James A. and Martha (Elder) White, the 
father a native of Tennessee, where he lived until nine years of age when he 
came to Indiana with his parents and they located in Sullivan county in a 
very early day, and later moved to Fountain county and from there to Helt 
township, Vermillion county. The elder White followed farming all his life. 
His family consisted of ten children, namely: Orville J. and Louisa are 
deceased: Florence lives in Clinton; Eliza Ann and Serena are deceased: Ren 
M., of this sketch; James A., Jr., of Clinton; Frank, who was a soldier during 
the Civil war in Company D, Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, is de- 
ceased ; Warren, deceased, and C. M., the latter of Clinton. 

Ren M. White was educated in the common schools of Helt township, 
where he grew to manhood, working on the home farm during the vacation 
periods. He then took up farming, and was thus engaged when the war oi' 
the Rebellion broke out, and on September 2. 1862, he enlisted in Company 
D, Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantr}', in which he became orderly 
sergeant and which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. The sub- 
ject saw much hard service, including that on Sherman's march to the sea. 
then on up through the Carolinas. fighting almost every day. and on to Wash- 
ington, D. C. On June 12, 1865, he was honorably discharged and paid for 
his services at Indianapolis. He at once returned home and resumed farm- 
ing, and on May 19, 1867, he was married to Mary J. Davis, daughter of 
Robert and Melvina (Taylor) Davis, who came from A^irginia to Parke 
county, in an early day. settling at the town of Annapolis. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 763 

To the subject and wife one child was born, Carrie, who (hcd wiien nine 
years of age. 

PoHtically, Mr. White is a Repubhcan, but while he has always been a 
stanch supporter of the same, he has never been a public man nor held office, 
preferring to de\'Ote his attention to his farming and stock raising, at which 
he has been very successful, now owning one of the choicest and best improved 
farms in Helt township, on which is a good home and convenient outbuildings, 
everything roundabout denoting good management. 



THEODORE C. MARTIN. 

The Allen and Martin Lumber Company, which has been referred to 
elsewhere in this history, in connection with the life of R. A. Allen, is one of 
the foremost business institutions in Clinton, Indiana, and it owes its success 
and remarkable progress in a very large degree to the business ability, untir- 
ing energy and careful attention of Theodore C. Martin, who started, with 
Mr. Allen, in the most modest circumstances, and now is regarded as one of 
the most reliable and financially res])onsible men in Clinton. He is a man 
of broad experience and splendid business attainments, and has made his way 
to his present prominent position by unceasing labor and well-deserving in- 
dustry. 

Mr. Martin is the son of Samuel and Margaret E. (McGinnis) Martin. 
Samuel Martin was born in 1829 and died in 1884, and his wife was born in 
1833, and died in 1897. Both parents received common school educations. 
They had eight children, all of whom are living. His father was a farmer 
all his life and was a man of prominence fn Putnam count}', Indiana. Theo- 
dore C. Martin was born Decemlier 29, 1869, in Putnam count\ . Indiana. 
He spent his early life on the farm and attended the common schools. Later 
he spent a couple of years in Eureka College, in Illinois, where he specialized 
in Bible study and the literary course. After leaving school he went into 
business, Iiecoming interested at first in the grocery business. 

Mr. Martin was married in 191 1 to Laura Wolfe, who was bom in 1872. 
She received a common school education. They have two children, Theodore , 
Wayne and Helen Louise Martin, both of whom are at home. Soon after- 
wards Theodore C. Martin left the grocery business and became a contractor 
and builder. This wurk was much more to his liking and he displayed a 
natural talent, which made him verv successful in lliis work. l''rom this he r 



764 PARKE AND V'ERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

naturally drifted into the real estate business and finally bought a share in 
the lumber yard together with Mr. Allen, retaining his interest in the con- 
tracting business. It was in 1909 that he and Mr. Allen purchased the lum- 
ber yard, and since that time they have been \-ery prosperous and are now 
running an enormous business. 

Mr. Martin has not only been interested in his business, but has given his 
attention to a number of other activities both in his town and the state. He 
is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Clinton, Indiana, 
and also a member and elder in the Christian church. He owns his home in 
Clinton and also a number of rentals there. He has also a half interest in a 
business room on Main street, and is an active partner in the firm of Allen & 
Martin. Mr, Martin has a great deal of influence in Clinton and he has 
always used it in endorsing and promoting every action for the public good 
which presents itself. He has succeeded in the business world by his sterling 
integrity and un(|uestioned honesty and is unixersally regarded as an earnest 
church worker, a careful and just business man and a citizen of \\'hom Clinton 
may be proud. 



ELMER M. McCUTCHAN. 

Having tlecided early in life that his native hills were good enough for 
him, Elmer M. McCutchan, of Greene townshi]), l^arke county, has remained 
here and has become well established through his industry and close applica- 
tion, and, having dealt honorably with his fellow men. he has always enjoyed 
their confidence and good will. 

Mr. McCutchan was born on March 10. 1867, in Greene township, 
Parke county, Indiana, and is a son of James A. and Minerva E. ( Porter) 
McCutchan. The father was born on December 18, 183 1, in Parke county, 
and the mother's birth occurred on July 27, 1837. in Putnam county, Indiana, 
and she is still living on the old home place in Greene township, but the father 
was called to his eternal rest in 1903. He was a carpenter in his earlier 
life, later turning his attention to farming and stock raising in this com- 
munity and here became the owner of a valuable farm. His family consisted 
of seven children, named as follows: Elmer M., of this review. William P.. 
Margaret A., John H., James F., S. Florence and M. Nellie. 

Elmer M. McCutchan received the usual advantages of the common 
schools in his native community, and later attended Bloomingdale .\cademy. 
then took a course in a commercial college at Terre Haute. Thus well 



PARKE A.N'l) VKKMII.lJlON COLNTIES, INDIANA. 765 

eqiiip])ecl for his chosen lite work, he returned to Parke county ant! began 
teaching school, which he followetl with most gratifying success for a period 
of fourteen years, h'inall}- tiring of the school room, he turned liis atten- 
tion to the mercantile business, which he followed at Russellville and Milligan, 
Parke county, for a period of about seven years, enjoying a libera! trade with 
the surrounding country. After that he took up farming an<l i> still actively 
engaged, owning eighty acres of highly productixe and well inipnAcd lantl, 
all well tilled and tillable, in Greene township. Me has a ])leasant home, and 
he keeps a good grade of live stock. 

On November 28, igoo, Mr. .McCutchau was united in marriage to 
Elsie E. Spencer, who was liorn on April 9, 1875. in Parke counlx. Indiana. 
and here she grew to womanhood and received her education in the public 
schools and Bloomingdale Academy. She is a daughter of George W. and 
Mary (Clark) Spencer. To this union four children have been liorn, namely: 
Winfred, born on September 22. igoi : Wendell S., born on l^'ebruarv 17, 
1905; Mary M., who was born on l'el)ruary i 1. U)Oj : and Marjorie .\.. whose 
birth occurred on June i, 191 1. 



JAMES SMITH REED. 

It is a rare, and ought to be a highly appreciated, ])rivilege \.o be able to 
spend our li\'es on the old home place. This has been the good fortune of 
James Smith Reed, one of the best known farmers of Melt township. \ er- 
million county, having lived nearly three score years here, during w hicli time 
he has been active in the great development of this community, for when he 
was a boy it was very little improved to what it is today, his ])arents having 
come here when settlers were few and little of the \irgiii land had been re- 
claimed from the wilderness. 

Mr. Reed was born in Helt townshii), X'ermillion county, Indiana, 
September it, 1854, and is a son of John W. and Sarah B. (Ralston) Reed, 
the father born in tSjj in Stokes county. North Carolina, where he spent his 
earlier years, coming from there to Vermillion county, Indiana, in 1833, 
settling near where the tow n of New St. Bernice is now located, and there he 
spent the rest of his life, following farming for about forty years, owning 
the farm where the subject now lives. He lived retired in Dan.i for six years, 
dying there in 1885 at the age of sixty-two years. The mother of the sub- 
ject also died in Dan.i in 1892. at the age of sixty-seven years, her birth hav- 



766 PARKE AXD \ERMILLIOX COLXTIES, INDIANA. 

ing occurred in 1825. They were the parents of eight children, namely : 
Louis Henry, of Centralia, Illinois; Alfred Maranda, who lives at St. Bernice, 
Indiana: James Smith, of this sketch; George Washington lives in Salina, 
Kansas; the next three children died in infancy; Jemima Jane, who married 
Ralph Hafley, of St. Bernice, Indiana, was the youngest child. 

James S. Reed grew to manhood on the home farm, where he worked 
when a boy, and he received his education in the common schools. In 1880 
he married Rebecca A. York, daughter of Andrew and Eva Jane (Rains) 
York, the father a native of Stokes county. North Carolina, and the mother 
of Mercer county, Kentucky. From North Carolina they moved to Edgar 
county, Illinois, where Mrs. Reed was born. Five children have been born to 
Mr. Reed and wife, namely: Claud I., born May 10, 1881, died in infancy: 
Grace Ethel, born June 20. 1882, died when twelve years old: Ernest E., born 
November 3, 1885; Otto O., horn April 19, 1889; and Wreatha M.. born May 
10, 1893. 

Mr. Reed began farming early in life and has continued the same to the 
present time with a marked degree of success, having spent his entire life, 
fiftv-eight vears, on the old homestead, wliich he has kept well tilled and well 
improxed. so that it has yielded abundant crops and has at the same time 
retained its original strength of soil. He has always kept a good grade of 
li\e stock and has kept the buildings in good repair. 

T\-)litica]lv. Mr. Reed is a Prohibitionist. He has been councilman one 
term, also school director several terms, and is known as a very faithful public 
servant. In religious affairs he is a Methodist Protestant. His father was 
a Republican, and his maternal grandfather was surveyor for one term in 
Edgar county, Illinois. 



R. I. FINNEY. 



The career of R. J. Finney, deceased, the late able and popular .sheriff of 
Parke county, Indiana, was varied and interesting, and the history of this 
localitv will be more interesting if a record of his activities and achievements 
are given prominence and a tribute offered to his wcirth and high character 
as a man of affairs, an enterprising and public-spirited citizen. He was a 
worthy scion of two of the sterling pioneer families of this country who did 
so much toward paving the way for the present-day civilization. For many 
vears he ranked among our leading agriculturists and he was one of the hon- 



PARKE AXD \"EKMir.LION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 76" 

ored veterans of the world's greatest civil strife, having fought gallantlv for 
his country's flag during the great Southern rehellion of the earlv sixties. 

K. J. l'"inney was liorn on December lo. 1844, in I'arke county, In- 
diana, and was the son of Roi)ert and Malinda (Hunt) I'inney. The father 
came from North ("amh'na, when about twenty years of age, to Vincennes, 
Indiana, accomi)anie(l liy liis father. Joseph Finney, who was a veteran of 
the war of 181 2. haxing served under General .\ndrew Jackson. He was a 
native of \'irginia, where his father, the subject's great-grandfather, Jo.seph 
Finney. Sr.. was also born, and from there the elder Finnev took his family 
into Tennessee in a ver\- early day. 

R. J. Finney was reared on his father's farm and received his educa- 
tion in the common schools. .Vt the commencement of the Ci\il war he was 
anxious to go to the front, but. being at that time but a youth, he was com- 
pelled to wait some time, and made repeated efforts before being jiermitted to 
enlist. K\entually he enlisted at Rock\ille. Indiana, but again on account of 
his youth he was not permitted to go to his regiment. Later he enlisted in 
the Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, but the commanding officers refused to muster 
him, still being too young. Finall)-. he went to Terre Haute and joined the 
One Hundred and Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he 
served about a year faithfully, the command being assigned to the Army of 
the Cumberland. At the conclusion of hostilities, and after receiving an 
honorable discharge. Air. h'innev returned home and took up farming in Parke 
countx' with his lirothers, which he made his ])rincipal life wi>rk. having been 
\-ery successful as a farmer and stock raiser, owning a finel\' im])roved and 
valuable farm. He was a good business man. a j^ractical agriculturist and an 
upright citizen, so that he stood unquestionalily among the re])resentative 
citizens of his county. He was employed as railway mail clerk iov twenty- 
seven consecutive years and resigned shortly before he was nominated for 
sheriff in 1908. He was elected sheriff' of Parke county, the duties of which 
office he discharged to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of the county, 
being the incumbent of the office at the time of his death, which occurred on 
December ii, 1912. He carried into the office of sheriff the same fidelity t<i 
dutv. sound judgment and common sense methods which he had exercised 
in his own private affairs and his career as a public official commanded the 
admiration of all who knew him. 

On July 8, 1867, Mr. Finney was united in marriage with Melissa 
Thompson, who has been deceased for some years. To this union four chil- 
dren have been born, all of whom died in infancy except Charles R., who 
married lessie Gross, and they have one child living. Charles Wesley. 



768 PARKE AXD VERMILLION COUXTIES, INDIANA. 

On December i, 1910, ^It. Finne}- married Gertrude Alay Atkinson, to 
which union was born one child, Robert J. Mr. Finney kept ahve his old amiy 
associations through his membership in the Grand .\rmy of the Republic, 
being held in high regard by his old comrades. In e\ery a\"enue of life's acti\'- 
ities in which he engaged he was always true tu his trust and because of his 
manly worth and estimable qualities he commanded public confidence to a 
notable degree. 



JESSE W. PlEkCE. 

Perhaps no one agency in all the world has done so much for public 
progress as the press, and an enterprising, well-edited journal is a most im- 
portant factor in promoting the welfare and prosperity of an}' community. 
It adds to the intelligence of the people through its transmission of foreign 
and domestic news and through its discussion of the leading questions and 
issues of the day, and, more than that, it makes tlie town or city which it 
represents known outside of the immediate locality, as it is sent each day or 
week into other cities or districts, carrying with it an account of the events 
transpiring in its home localit\'. the advancement and progress there being 
made, and the advantages which it offers its residents along moral, educa- 
tional, social anil commercial lines. X'crmillinn crjunty is certainl\- indebted 
to its wide-awake journals in no small degree, and one of the men who are 
doing commendable work in the local newspaper field is Jesse W. Pierce, 
editor and publisher of the daily and weekly CHntonian. at Clinton. He has 
long Ijeen connected with journalistic work, and his power as a writer and 
editor, 'as well as a business man. is widely acknowledged among contem- 
porarv nespaper men and the public in general. 

Tesse W. Pierce was born at Slielburn. Sulli\an county. Indiana, on 
December 21, 1878, and is the son of James H. and Flora E. fPatton) 
Pierce, both also natives of Sullivan county. The father is a prominent and 
successful lumberman and farmer and a man of good parts. He and his wife 
liecame the parents of two children besides the immediate subject of this 
sketch, namely: Claude and Mrs. Hazel Acklemire, both residents of Shel- 
burn. 

Jesse W. Pierce received his elementarv education in the public schools 
at Shelburn, and then took a normal course at the State Xormal School at 
Terre Haute, graduating in 1902. He then entered ^^'abash College, at 




JESSE W. PIERCE. 



PARKE AXD VERMILLION COUXTIES, IXDL'XNA. 769 

Crawfordsvillc, where he graduated in 1905. During this period of his 
studies he was engaged in teaching school and while in Wabash College did 
newspaper work for the Crazcfordsvillc Journal. After completing his educa- 
tion, Mr. Pierce became a reporter, and later city editor, on the Siillivaii Daily 
Tiiiirs. He then worked as a reporter on the Tcrrc Haute Star and in the 
same capacity on the Worcester (Massachusetts) Tclcgrain. Tn 1907 he 
bought the Picrceton (Indiana) Record, which he published until 1908, when 
he came to Clinton and purchased the Clinfonian and the Plaindealer, consoli- 
dating the two papers under the name of the Clintonian. The paper was 
published as a weekly until 1910, when it was changed to semi- weekly, and 
in 1912 its issues were changed to daily and weekly. Mechanically, the 
Clintonian is all that could be desired, while editorially the paper will com- 
pare favorably with an\- other newspaper in this section of the state. Mr. 
Pierce is a "live wire" and has the genuine newspaper man's instinct for 
news, while he is discriminating in his selection of the daily news, so that the 
paper has no relation to the "yellow" journalism which has to some extent 
been a blight on the profession. Mr. Pierce has at all times stood stanchly 
and fearlessly for the best interests of the entire community and personally 
and b\- editorial utterance advocates advanced ground on all moral, social 
and educational questions. Personally, he is an independent Republican and 
takes an intelligent interest in public affairs. He is genial and courteous in 
his dealings with others, possessing an engaging personality that makes for 
him friends of all who associate with him, and in the community at large he 
is held in high repute. 

On April 27. 1907, Mr. Pierce was united in marriage with Harriet H. 
Ristine, of Crawfordsvillc, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Ristine. 
Their union has been blessed with two children, Warren Harvey and Martha 
Ristine. 



JOHN D. BROWN. 



Among the sterling and highly respected citizens of Vermillion town- 
ship, Vermillion county, Indiana, stands John D. Brown, a man who has, in 
every sphere of activity in which he has engaged, performed his duty to the 
best of his ability, thereby earning a well merited reputation for integrity, 
industry and thoroughness. As a soldier for the I'nion during the dark days 
of the Southern rebellion he was a faithful and courageous defender of the 
national honor; as a shoemaker he has during a long course of year? been 

(49) 



7/0 I'ARKE AND VERMILLION COLXTIES, INDIANA. 

considered one of the best in tlie state, and as a citizen he has al\va3-s stood 
for a high standard of living, so that his community is the richer for his hav- 
ing Hved in it. 

John D. Brown was born in the township in which he now lives, on Octo- 
ber i(>. 1838. his family ha^■ing been a well-known one here from the davs of 
the early settlers. His father, Thomas Brown, came from the East to Ver- 
million county in a \-ery earl)- da\' and here established the permanent home 
of the family. He was a shoemaker by trade and followed that occupation 
with considerable success. To him and his wife were born the following 
children: Jeff. Henry, and John D.. the subject of this sketch, all of whom 
li^e in Newport: Da\-id, Sarah and Susan are deceased, and .\rmina, of 
Burton, Kansas, who is living. 

John D. Brown learned the trade of shoemaker under the directions of 
his father and, as stated above, he has for many years been considered one of 
the best shoemakers in the state, having enjoyed a large jjalronage among the 
representati\e people of the community. On the 28th of August, 1862, Mr. 
Brown enlistefl f(jr ser\-ice as a member of the Fourteenth Regiment Indiana 
\'olunteer Infantry, and gave to his country his best ser\-ice until discharged 
because of physical disability, incurred in the line of duty. He was a loyal 
defender of the Stars and Stripes and, to the full extent of his ability, con- 
tributed to the success of the national arms. Since his return to private life 
he has de\oted himself to the vocation of shoemaker, making his home at 
Newport. 

On March 24, 1864, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Eliza Smith, 
and to them have been born the following children: Richard, deceased: 
^linnie. the wife of Joseph Donovan, of Terre Haute, and William Sherman. 
The mother of these children was called to her rest on February 7, 191 1, at 
the age of sixty-six years. 

Politically, John D. Brown gi\es his support to the l^emocratic party, 
while, fraternall}-, he is a member of the (irand .\rmy of the Republic. His 
excellent personal qualities of character have commended him to the good 
will of the people with whom he has mingled for so many years, and he is 
generally considered one of the sterling citizens of Newport. 

\\'illiam S. Brown, oldest child nf John D. and Eliza Brown, was 
born in Vermillion townshi]; on March 8, ]8()f). He grew to manhood in his 
native community and attended school here. Earh- in life he took up farm- 
ing as a renter, following the same for some time. In igo8 Mr. Brown was 
elected trustee of X'ermillion township and has performed the duties of this 
office in such a manner as to win the commendation of his fellow citizens. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COl'NTIES, INDIANA. 



// 



He is a man of s^ood habits and upri.^ht characlL-r and stands Iiigii in tiie es- 
teem of those who know him. 

On March 14, 1889, W'iliam S. Brown married Etta Wise. (lau,!.;liter of 
Daniel Wise, of Newport, and to this union ti\e children ha\e been born, 
namely; .\den, at home: Hazel, deceased; Arden. (iladys and .Martha, all at 
home. 

Politically, Mr. Brown is a Democrat, while his fraternal atfiliations 
are with the Court of Honor and the Knights of Pythias. 



SVLN'ESTER M.\X1().\. 

Many of the characteristic traits of the sterling Celtic race arc to jjc 
noted in the character of Sylvester Maninn, successful farmer and honored 
citizen of Vermillion count}-, for he is thrifty, jjrogressix'e and honorable in 
all the relations of life and has ne\er permitted hardships to ap])all him or 
obstacles to divert him from his coxeted goal, and. liax'ing lived honesth' dur- 
ing his residence here, he has e\er had the esteem of his neighbors and friends. 

Mr. Manion w;is born on behruarv 25, i85('), in I'arke county, Indiana, 
and he is a son of Patrick and Rose Manion, who were born in Ireland. There 
the father spent the first half of his life, coming to I'arke county. Indiana, 
when a middle aged man and here he ])egan to work on one of the street rail- 
ways, later worked on the canal. His death occurred when his .son. Sylvester, 
was eighteen months old, having lived but three years after he came here. 
His family consisted of three children, namelx' ; Mary is deceased ; I'ridget 
married |. X. 1 )a\'is, he being now deceased, but she lix'cs in Newport. Indi- 
ana; and Sylvester, of this sketch. 

Sylvester Manion receixed his education in the public schools, and early 
in life turned his attention to farming, which he has always followed with 
success, and he is now the owner of a finely improxcd and ])roductive farm 
of one hundred and eighty acres in Vermillion townshij), where he is carry- 
ing on general farming and stock raising. He is making a specialty of rais- 
ing Red and Duroc Jersev hogs, which, owing to their superior (|ualit\. he 
alwavs tinds a \er\- read\- market for. lie also raised graded Jersey cattle, and, 
while he does not carry on a dairy business, sells considerable butter. Every- 
thing about his place denotes tln-ift, good management and excellent taste 
in farming and stock raising according to twentieth-century methods. 

Mr. Manion was married in 1886 to Icie 1.. Johnston, daughter of John 



7/2 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

R. and Elizabeth (Southerd) Johnston, her father having been one of the 
old settlers of Helt township, this county. He worked in the timber for 
some time, and when the Civil war came on he was a soldier in the Union 
army. Five children ha^■e been liorn to the subject and wife, namely: Elsie, 
Hosie, Iva and Harry, all at home; Thomas, the third in order of birth, was 
born August lo, 1891, and died September 20, 1895. 

Mr. Manion has made all the improvements on his place and he has a 
nice home, three and three- fourths miles from Newport. Politically, he is 
a Republican, but is inclined to be progressive in his views and he votes inde- 
pendently locally. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America 
and the Court of Honor, both at Newport. He takes an interest in whatever 
tends to the betterment of his locality in an\- wav. 



H. B. LEAVITT, M. D. 

The dread scourge of tuberculosis has gained such headway in the 
United States, over one-half the deaths throughout the Union annually being 
due to it, that a large number of the best general practitioners in the land 
have specialized on this disease, many learned medical treatises have been 
prepared from time to time, dealing with this subject, and numerous hospitals 
for the exclusive treatment of the same have been established in every state. 
The nation-wide war goes on. making progress, slowly but surely, and from 
present indications great strides are about to be made in this specific branch 
of materia medica. One of the eminent physicians of Indiana who gave the 
subject his careful attention and was regarded as one of our most reliable 
experts on tuberculosis was Dr. H. B. Leavitt, the late efficient and popular 
superintendent of the Indiana State Tuberculosis Hospital. He was born in 
Elmira, New York, July 5, 1865. and was a son of A. H. and Sarah (Bald- 
win) Leavitt, both of whom are now deceased. 

Dr. Leavitt grew to manhood in his native state and was educated in 
the schools of Elmira, taking an academic course. Having decided on a 
medical career early in life, he went to St. Louis and entered the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons, where he made a splendid record and from which 
institution he was graduated with the class of 1896. He furthered his knowl- 
edge of medicine at the National Hospital in St. Louis, where he was an 
interne for some time. He began the practice of his profession in the city 
of St. Louis, where he remained one year, then came to Worthington, In- 
diana, in 1897, where he soon had a large practice. About 1900 he took a 



PARKE AND VERMELLION COUNTIES, INillANA. J-/ T^ 

post-graduate course in New York. While at Worthington, Indiana, he re- 
ceived an appointment as a member of the board of trustees of the Indiana 
State Tuberculosis Hospital, in February, 1900, and he remained connected 
with this institution as superintendent, giving eminent satisfaction to all con- 
cerned, to the time of his death, which occurred in 1912. 

Dr. Leavitt was married on August 9, 1896, to Mary Straight, a lady 
of culture and the representative of an excellent family. This union has 
been blessed by the birth of the following children : Marion, Louise and 
Eugenie. 



GEORGE WASHINGTON HATFIELD. 

The man who can meet every crisis in his own affairs, or those of his 
home or country, with clear judgment and prompt action, is the man whose 
efforts are crowned with success. George W. Hatfield, of Adams township, 
Parke county, Indiana, is a man of this type. When the call for volunteers 
came he was ready to go and fight for his country, and when the war was 
over he met the conditions which faced him in his native state and set to 
work to conquer them by industry. 

The subject's father was George Hatfield and his mother Nancy (Glass) 
Hatfield. His grandfather Glass was a native of Ohio, who came to this state 
when there were ver\- few people here, and cleared his farm. He engaged in 
agriculture all of his life. He had ten children, eight of whom are still living. 
George Washington Hatfield. Jr.. was born on Alay 20, 1845, '" Parke 
county. Indiana. He spent his youth as did most of tiie farmer lads of the 
state, attending the common schools when he could be spared from manual 
labor at home, and indulging in all those hardy out-of-door games which 
built a physique that stood even the strain of the Civil war. 

Mr. Hatfield was married on February 5. 1908, to Nellie White, the 
daughter of William White, who also was a native of Indiana. They ha\e 
no children. Mr. Hatfield has been very successful. He now owns two hun- 
dred and twentv-three acres of land in Adams township, all of which, with 
the exception of about forty acres, is tillable. This land belonged first to his 
grandfather and then to his father. He has brought his land to a high state 
of cultivation, by constant and intelligent care, and now produces some of 
the largest and finest crops that are to be found in that part of the county. 
He also has one of the best equipped places in Parke county, having built 
most of the improvements himself, including a beautiful home. 

In 1864 Mr. Hatfield enlisted for service in the Civil war, and during 



774 PARKE AXD VERMILLION' COLXTIES, INDIANA. 

his army life was in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment of Indiana 
troops, under Captain Hawn. He served his country in war, and then re- 
turned home til serve just as faithfully in peace, and, with all the care he has 
bestowed on his farm, he has taken an active interest in all of the larger 
questions that have come to the citizens of his countv and state to be an- 
swered. His sound judgment and foresight are much respected by his friends 
and neighbors, and as he has l)ecome. through his own efforts, one of the 
richest men in his county, his opinion in matters of business carries great 
weight with all with whom he is identihed. He has always been a Democrat 
in politics. The men who have put their energies into the soil are in reality 
the men upon whom this countr)- depends for its food, and though our fac- 
tories and our mercantile businesses are indispensable, it is the man on the 
farm who really holds the key to our prosperity. 



E. H. CALA'IX ROHM. 

To attain a worthy citizenship by a life that is always honored and re- 
spected, even from childhood, deserves more than mere mention. It is no 
easy task to resist the many temptations of youth and early manhood and 
form a character that will remain an unstained hgure for all time. One may 
take his place in ])ublic life through some \igorous stroke of public policy, 
and even remain in the hearts of friends and neighlx)rs, Init to take the same 
position by dint of the practice of an upright life and without a craving for 
exaltation and popularity is worthy the highest praise and commendation. 
One of the most representative business men and public-spirited citizens of 
Parke county is E. H. Calvin Rohm, widely known mill man of Rockville. 
Strong and forceful in his relations with his fellow men, he has not only made 
his influence felt, but has also gained the good will and commendation of both 
his associates in the practical affairs of life anil the general public, ever re- 
taining his reputation among men for integrity and high character, no mat- 
ter how trying the circumstances, and never losing that dignity which is the 
birthright of a gentleman. Consequently his influence for good in the general 
upbuilding of the city of Rock\ille and l^arke cuunty has been most potent 
and still continues. He is a plain, straightforward and unassuming gentle- 
man, friendly, genial and obliging in his nature and he is popular with a wide 
acquaintance. 

M\\. Rohm, of the hrm of Rohm Brnthers, well known dealers in riour. 
feed, hav and grain at Rockville, and one of the l>est known representatives 



TARKt AND \KRM I I.I.IOX COL'XTIES, INDIANA. 775 

of an old family of millers, was born at Gapsville, Bedford county, Pennsyl- 
vania, in i860. He is a son of Jacob and Mary ( Hi.xson) Rolim. liotli of 
whom were also natives of Pennsyh'ania and there they i^rew to maturity, 
were educated and married, later moving to the nnddle West, locating at 
Mansfield in 1875. The Rohm family originally came from (ierman\-. emi- 
grating to the United States in the eighteenth century, in the colonial days, 
and from that period to the present time the various members of the family 
ha\e been leaders in the affairs of the localities where they ha\e li\ed, and 
since the latter part of the eighteenth century they have been prominent in the 
milling business in various states, the subject of this sketch being the fourth 
successive generation f)f this name to engage in this line of endeavor in 
America, and he seems to ha\e inherited much of the entei'prise and lechnical 
knowledge of his forebears. 

E. H. Calvin Rohm received a common school education in the sciiools 
of Illinois, Iowa and Indiana, having removed from the old Keystone state 
with his famih' when he w as a boy. He literally grew up in the milling busi- 
ness, learning the same in his father's mill, ])eginning at the age of lifteen 
years, since which time he has been continuously identified with the business 
with ever-increasing success, having mastered the various phases of the same 
when young in years. In the early eighties he received se\eral \ears' ex- 
perience as journeyman millwright, assisting in or superintending the con- 
struction of mills in various parts of the L'inted Stales, from \'irginia to 
California, giving eminent satisfactinn and becnming known as a \er)- skilled 
workman. In 1883 he formed a partnership with his father at Mansfield, 
Indiana, and installed the first roller ])rocess Hour mill in I'arke county. By 
the admission into the firm of his brother, (ieorge W. Rdhm, whose personal 
historv appears elsewhere, the firm of Jacob Rohm iK: Sons was formed. With 
the retirement of the father in 1893 the firm of Rohm 1 brothers was formed, 
and the mill at Kockville was built the same year. In addition to this large 
mill, the firm of Rohm Ihothers control and operate the Mansfield Roller 
Mill-', the Mecca l-'lex rilor. the West I'nion k".lev;itor. the Montezuma Mills 
and I'devator. and Walton's Warehouse. In 1895 the linn of Rohm Broth- 
ers & Companv was formed, by the admission of 11. II. Heller and C. U. 
Seybold. this firm taking over the Mansfield mill property. The firm does a 
large and \aried lousiness, the i>rincipal lines being llour milling .nnd grain 
business and the manufacture of hard wood lumber. The Manstield mill is 
the onlv mill in the county occupying the site of a pioneer mill, there having 
been a mill at this point since the year 1820. Its water-power site is unex- 
celled and eipialed by few in the slate. The firm-- m.mufacture the famous 



yj^ PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

brands of "Big Domino Flour" and "Victory Flour,'" which are very popu- 
lar throughout the middle West, and they are extensive and successful deal- 
ers in flour, feed, hay and grain. These brothers are among the financially 
strong men of Parke county and are known as progressive in all that the term 
implies. 

The subject of this sketch was married in 1902 to Alice A. Hunt, a lady 
of many commendable characteristics and a daughter of John F. D. and 
Mary (Kemper) Hunt, a highly esteemed family of Rockville. where Mrs. 
Rohm grew to womanhood and was educated. 

Fraternally, Mr. Rohm belongs to Parke Lodge No. 8, Free and Ac- 
cepted Masons, and kindred Masonic societies at Rockville ; also the Clinton 
Commandery, Knights Templar; the Indiana Consistory, Scottish Rite, and 
Murat Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at In- 
dianapolis; he also belongs to Rockville Camp No. 3245, ^Modern Woodmen 
of America. 



WILLIAM J. WHITE. 

Under a popular form of government, like that of the United States, 
where the democratic idea of equality is as fully developed as the present 
iniperfect condition of mankind will permit, we expect as its legitimate result 
the triumph of individual worth and energy over all the competition that 
wealth and class may array against them. Here the avenues of wealth and 
distinction are fully opened to all, which fact enhances rather than detracts 
from the merits of those whose energy and integrity have triumphed over all 
obstacles intervening between an humble position and the attainment o'f those 
laudable ends. Obscurity and labor, at no time dishonorable, never assume 
more attractive features than when the former appears as the nurse of those 
virtues which the latter, by years of honest and persevering effort, transplants 
to a higher and richer soil; hence, the biography of those men of sterling 
worth whose active enterprise has \\on for them the distinction, pre-eminence 
and commanding influence in the society in which they move must be replete 
with facts which should encourage and instruct the young. Such is William 
J. White, vice-president of the Parke State Bank, of Rockville, who for 
many years has held marked prestige in business and civic circles of the local- 
ity of which this volume treats, and who by the exercise of those talents and 
qualities which were cultivated from his youth, has reached an honorable 
position in the pul>lic mind and earned the respect and high esteem of his 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. •J']'J 

fellow citizens. He is a man of tireless energy- and indomitable courage, and 
takes an optimistic view of things. 

Mr. White was born in Rockville, Indiana, July 29, 1850, and is a scion 
of an excellent old family, the Whites having been prominent in the affairs 
of this locality since the pioneer epoch. His parents were Johnson S. and 
Hannah (Jones) White. 

The subject grew to manhood in his native count}- and here received a 
good education in the common schools, and at an early age he was initiated 
into the mysteries and miseries of saw-mill life at White's saw-mill, three 
miles from Rockville. Before he was of age he was appointed deputy re- 
corder of Parke county, on February 13, 1871. and he served with satisfac- 
tion to all concerned in that capacity until November 20, 1874. In 1874 he 
was elected to the office of county recorder, serving in that connection for 
two terms, or until 1882, in a manner that reflected much credit upon him- 
self and to the praise of his constituents. He was singularly well fitted for 
the discharge of the duties of this office, being by nature careful, accurate, a 
fine penman, and possessing a remarkable memory, so excellent, in fact, that 
in most instances he was enabled to inform the inquirer as to the volume and 
page of his deed or mortgage witliout making an examination. 

Mr. White became associated with the Parke State Bank at Rockville, 
as vice-president, in May, 1901. and this responsible position he has con- 
tinued to fill to the present time to the eminent satisfaction of the stockhold- 
ers and patrons. 

Prominent in fraternal affairs, Mr. White takes an active interest in the 
Masonic order. Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows. He is justly regarded as one of the most reliable, intelligent and capa- 
ble of local business men and [lersonally he is a man of unfailing courtesy. 
Religiously, he belongs to the JNIethodist Episcopal church, being a trustee in 
the local congregation, and for many years has had charge of the choir; in 
fact, he is regarded as one of the most important ])illars in this church and 
is a liberal supporter of the same. 

Mr. White was married on Xovembcr 12. 1874. to Martha J. Miller, a 
lady of refinement and education the daughter of James N. Miller and wife, 
an excellent family of Parke county. Three children graced this union, all 
of whom are living, namely: Mabel, who is the wife of W. B. Thomson, of 
Rockville; Herbert Snow, of Coffeyville, Kansas, and Robert J., of Rock- 
ville. Mr. White is noted for his charitable impulses, his sunny disposition 
and optimistic view of life in general, so that he is a pleasant man to meet. 



77^ PAKKE AXD VERMII.I.IOX COUXTIES, IXDIAXA. 

GEORGE W. ROHM. 

The financial and commercial history of Rockville, huliana. would be 
incomplete and unsatisfactory without a personal mention of those whose 
lives are interwoven so closel}- with the industrial and financial development 
of this portion of the state. When a man, or a number of men. set in motion 
the machinen,- of business and thus contribute to the commercial prosperity of 
the community with which they are allied, they place themselves among the 
leaders of that communit}-. and deserve specific mention among those who 
ha\-e contributed to the progress and prosperity of their locality. Among the 
representati\e citizens of Parke county is the gentleman whose name appears 
at the head of this sketch and who has for many years been closely identified 
with one of the leading industries of Rockville. 

George W. Rohm was born in Fulton county. Pennsxlvania. in 1864, 
and is the son of Jacob and Mary (Hixson) Rohm, both of whom also were 
natives of the Keystone state. The subject received a good education, hav- 
ing attended the common school at the \arious places of the family resi- 
dence in Illinois. Iowa and Indiana. He was also a student for a short time 
in the State Normal School at Terre Haute, the Central Normal School at 
Danville. Indiana, and the Terre Haute Business College, graduating from 
the last-named institution. He then took up the vocation of teaching, being 
thus engaged in the common schools of Parke county for three vears, and 
meeting with splendid success. In 1886 he left the school rocjm to engage in 
business in partnership with his father and brotlier at Mansfield, Indiana, 
having learned the miller's trade in his boyhood under the direction of his 
father. The name of Rohm has been continuously connected with the milling 
and grain business of Parke count\- since 1875, when Jacob Rohm, father of 
the subject, bought the mill at ]\[ansfieUl. The firm of Jacob Rohm & Son 
was formed in ■1885. the name being changed with the admission of the 
subject into the firm, to Jacob Rohm & Sons. The father retired from the 
firm in 1893 and the firm of Rohm Brothers was formed, the subject and his 
brother. E. H. Calvin Rohm, continuing the business at Mansfield. .Vt that 
time they began the erection of the Rockville Roller Mills. Their business 
has constantly grown and extended, so that they now own and operate the 
Rockville Roller Mills, the Mecca Elevator, and also have a controlling in- 
terest in the Man.sfield Roller Mills, the West Union Elevator, the Montezuma 
INIill and Elevator Company and Walton's Warehou.se. They are shrewd 
and sagacious business men. conducting their affairs along right methods. 



PARKK AM) XKK.MILI.IOX L'Uf Nil HS. IXDIAXA. JJl) 

and are minihert'il anions;- tlu' leading- hiisincss nu'n and citizens of tlicir com- 
munity. 

In 1S87 (ieorgc W. Ivolim was married to Alice j. X'inzant. the daui^hter 
of Henry W. and Alary ( Hamilton) \dnzant. of J'arke county, and tlie\- have 
become the parents of ti\e sons. ( iu\-, Arthur. Lawrence. Homer and Harold, 
and three daughters, Cora, Clara and Mary, all of whom are living, except 
Lawrence, who died in early childhood. 

Religiousl}-, Mr. Rohm united with the Methodist I'.pi.-cdpal I'huich in 
early manhood and has been actively connected with the sociel}' e\er since. 
For twenty-three years he has served as Sunday school superintendent and is 
now serving his sixteenth consecutive yeai" as .superintendent of the Sunday 
school of the Rockville Methodist Kpiscopal church, {'"raternallw .\lr. Rohm 
is a member of the ]''ree and .\ccepted Masons, belonging to I'arke Lodge 
No. 8; Parke Chapter No. t,j. Royal .\rch Masons: I'arke Chapter No. 177, 
Order of the Eastern Star, and Rockville Camp Xo. 3-'45, Modern Woodmen 
of America. 



PHILLH^ A. R()111-:RTS. 

The majority of the foremost i)eople in Clinton. W-rmillidU county. In- 
diana, are connected with the coal mines in that part of the state. These 
coal fields are very i)roductive, and it is only within the i)ast ten years that 
the work there has become so organized as to gi\e the public the benefit 
of the nn'nes. Phillip A. Roberts is in Clintdii because of the mines, as he is 
a successful and experienced miner. 

Mr. Roberts is the son of William L. and I'diza. ( Darrj Roberts. His 
father was born in ( )hio October 3, 1S37. and is still living. His mother, 
who was born in 1843 in Ohio, died in 18S0. Both parents had a common 
school education. They had three children, all of wIkiui are living. William 
V. Roberts was a farmer for a while, and then turned his attention to gen- 
eral merchandi.se, and is well known and iiiglily resi)ecied in the community 
in which he li\es. 

I'hillip A. Roberts was born August 13, 1871. in Iowa, and received a 
common school education. On the Sth of May, 1895, he married Mary (".race 
Hunter, who was born July 14. 187'). in X'ermillion couiUy, Indiana, and was 
educated in the common schools of this state. They have six children, all ot 
whom are at home. Their first child was I')on. and then come Doyne. Lloyd. 
Howard. Nellie and Kl\a. 

Mr. Roberts has always been interested in coal mining and has had a 



780 PARKE AXD \'ERMII.LIOX COUXTIES. INDIANA. 

broad experience in liis work. He was first employed in the mines in Kan- 
sas. From there he went to Illinois, and then to Missouri. He came to 
Indiana in 1894, and went to work in this field, and he was with the Bering 
Company when they took the mine here, three years ago. He has been very 
thorough in his study of this work and understands the work through practi- 
cal experience. He now is superintendent for J. K. Bering Coal Company 
of the shafts in mines Nos. i, 2, 3. 4. 5, 6 and 8. 

Besides his \\ork in the mines. Mr. Roberts has been very much inter- 
ested in all the affairs of the community and is proving himself an active and 
reliable citizen in Clinton. He is a Republican, and is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias at Clinton. He has been very thrifty and owns his own 
home. Such men, working out their own fortune, further commerce and add 
to the wealth of the district in which thev live. 



LEE ROY STEWART. 

Among the successful teachers of X'ermillion county. Indiana, stands 
the subject of this sketch, who has not only gained a high standing among 
his fellow educators, but has also attained a prominence in other lines of 
effort unusual in one of his years. Of a studious and investigating nature, he 
has not been satisfied with the simple routine of his professional life, but has 
delved into the past and by his researches into fields that to many offer little 
attraction, he has earned for himself high honor and distinction. 

Lee Roy Stewart is the oldest son of Mr. and ■Sirs. Bora Stewart and 
was born at the family home on the lianks of the Wabash, near Xewport. 
Indiana, on September 10, 1889. He attended the ])ublic schools, graduating 
from the Xewport high school in 1909, after which he took special training 
in the Indiana State Normal School. For the past four years he has been 
successfully engaged in teaching in the common schools near Newport. 
"Skimmie." as he is familiarly called b\- his associates, has for some time 
been making a special study of aboriginal life in Parke and Vermillion coun- 
ties, and is already held to be an authority on Indian life in his territory. He 
is actively associated with archeologists all over the world, being an active 
member of the International Society of Archeologists. His collection of In- 
dian artifacts is the best in western Indiana. He is a very busy man, for, in 
addition to liis regular school work and his archeolo.gical studies, research 
and writings, he finds time to write occasional articles for the Hoosier State. 
and has acted as special correspondent for several newspapers. "I sleep 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES. INDIANA. 781 

when I get time," is his slogan, and he pretty nearly follows that program, 
for he is indefatigable in his studies, keeps thoroughly up-to-date in his peda- 
gogical work, and has written several \aluahle and interesting volumes, 
among them, "In the Land of Wigwams." which is a resume of Indian life, 
manners, customs and implements, for busy students ; "Mortuaiy Customs of 
Vemiillion County" and "Mound Exploration of Vermillion County" are 
works which contain much valuable data and information, most of which has 
been collated and brought to light thmugh the personal investigations of the 
author. Notwithstanding his busy programme, !Mr. Stewart finds time to 
spend with his friends socialh- and is held in high esteem by all who enjoy 
his acquaintance. 

On May 28, 191 1, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage with Orpha M. 
Reed, the daughter of William TT. Reed and wife, of Dana, Indiana. 



PERRY HUXFORD. 



This is an age in which the farmer stands pre-eminently above any other 
class as a producer of wealth. Me simply takes advantage of the winds, the 
warm air, the bright sunshine and the refreshing rains, and with the help of 
the Creator and by virtue of his own skill in handling nature's gifts, he 
creates grain, hay, live stock and vegetables, all of which are absolute neces- 
sities to the inhabitants of the world. Nothing truer was ever uttered than 
that by the great Commoner of Nebraska : "Burn dow n your cities and leave 
our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy 
the farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city." 

One of the leading farmers of Florida township. Parke county. Indiana, 
is Perry Huxford, who was born on April 9. 1867. on the old Huxford home- 
stead in this county, and he is a son of John and Matilda (Driver) Huxford, 
a well known old family here. 

Perry Huxford grew to manhood in Florida township and there went to 
the common schools, working on the home place during his school years. His 
father was well-to-do. one of the most substantial a.griculturists of the county, 
and when the subject reached the age of twenty-one years the elder Huxford 
gave him three thousand dollars, and the lad started in life for himself, 
buying the farm on which he still lives, consisting of about one hundred and 
thirty acres of fertile and fine farming land on the Huxford road in Florida 
township. He has met with misfortune, but has never been the kind of man 
to admit defeat, always forging ahead, despite obstacles. At one time he lost 



782 PARKE AXD VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

one thousand dullars on hogs, but recovered from this set back in due course 
of time. 

Mr. Huxford was married on February 19. 1887, to Alarv A. Gellar, 
daughter of ^V. C. Gellar and wife, and to this union six children have been 
born, namely: Ivan R., who attended Purdue University, is at home; Tilla 
and Dilla, twins: Floyd is deceased: Bryan was next in order of birth, and 
Orvena is the youngest child. 

Mr. Huxford is a member of the Christian church, and politically he is a 
Democrat, but he has never been in an\- res])ect a public man or seeker after 
public honors. 



HARRY BALES. 



The family of which the subject of this sketch is an honoreil representa- 
tive has been known in \'ermillion count}' since the pioneer period and the 
record they ha\-e made has been one of which Mr. Bales can justly be prcjud, 
for his ancestors left a priceless heritage to their posterit}'. the memory of 
names and good deeds which time can neither obliterate nor dim. As a pro- 
gressive agriculturist he ranks among the leaders in the \-icinit\- of the town 
of Dana and as a citizen he is public s])irited and useful. 

Harry Bales was born February 23, 1867, on the farm where he still 
resides, in Vermillion county. Indiana, and he is a son of Caleb and Mary 
(Jordan) Bales, both natives of Indiana, the father born in Helt township, 
Vermillion county, and here devoted his life successful!}' to farming and 
died here on May 12, 1901. The mother's death occurred in 1872. They 
were the parents of two children, Harry, of this review, and E. C, who is 
connected with him in farming. 

Harrv Bales grew to manhood on the home place and there began work- 
ing when but a bo}'. He received a good common school education in the 
neighboring schools and at the Dana high school. On September U), 1893, 
he was united in marriage to Tott Crane, who was born January 14. 1867, in 
Helt township, Vermilfion county, and there she grew to womanhood and 
received a common school education. She is a daughter of Stephen and 
Mariam Crane, a highly respected family of Helt township. To the subject 
and wife one child has been born. Mariam, whose liirth occurred on January 
22, 1900. 

Mr. Bales began farming" for himself earh' in life and has alwa}s fol- 
lowed this line of endeavor. He and his brother are now owners of three 
hundred and six acres of finely imjiroved and productive land, nearly all 



PARKK AM) \-|;K.MII.I.I0X COUNTIES, IXIIIANA. 783 

tillable but about sixty acres, and is fairly well tiled, most of tbe present im- 
provements ha\'ing been made by the subject, except the residence, which was 
built by his father, (ieneral farming", together with stock raising, is carried 
on extensively and most .successfully, everything about the place denoting 
good management. 

Fraternally, j\Ir. Rales is a member of the Ma.sonic order and the Knights 
of Pythias at Dana, and in his church relations be is a Methodist, rulitically. 
Air. Bales has for some time been active in the ranks of the Republican part}'. 
He was appointed county commissioner in May, 1911. succeeding Mr. Davis, 
deceased, and this position he has filled to the entire satisfaction of all con- 
cerned. 



TAMES H. F.LLER. 



Among the \oung men identified with the mining interests of N'ermillion 
countv who have gained a place among the leading citizens of their comniun- 
it\' is James H. Eller, at present the mine boss of the J- K. Deering mine No. 
2. near Clinton. He comes of a family whose men have been accustomed to 
be leaders, and he himself is a strong representative of the ancestral virtues. 
His forefathers were residents of North Carolina, a state whose sons, wher- 
ever tbe\' ha\'e gone, have made themselves noted for their independence and 
aggressiveness, combined with a strong loyalty to duty. 

James H. Eller is the son of Calvin and Sally (Hodge) Eller, and was 
horn in Belmont county. Tennes.see. May Ji. 1869. Calvin Eller was born in 
Ashe countv. Xorth Carolina. April i_'. \>>p,o. He later removed from the 
state of his nativity to Tennessee. When a mere stripling he enlisted as a 
soldier in the Mexican war, and, in part as a result of his experience there 
gained, he was chosen a captain in the Confederate army, and fought entirely 
through that long and losing struggle, in loyal defense of the rights of his 
state. His war record was admirable, and exhibits him as a brave and fear- 
less leader, ever careful of the welfare of the soldiers under him. At the 
close of the war he became the su])erintendent of a cotton mill in Tennessee, 
and later, in the spring of 1881, he removed to Indiana. Here he was in- 
terested in the lumber business for a time, then turned his attention to farm- 
ing. He is now living in Fairview, Indiana, and in his old age is enjoying 
the respect of his nei.ghbors. Sally Hodge Eller. his wife, was born in Ten- 
nessee, and died there in 1870. 

Tames H. Filer, after spending his youth in connection with the lumber 
business of his father, entered the mines in 1888. His first work was in the 



7^^4 PARKK AXD VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Norton Creek mine, north of Clinton. Later he was with the J. K. Deering 
Company, and on June 26, 191 1, he came to the J. K. Deering mine No. 2 as 
boss, which position he now holds. During his twenty-five years' experience 
he has thoroughly learned mining in all its branches, and he is one of the most 
valuable men in the service of his company. Fraternally, Mr. Eller is a mem- 
ber of the Odd Fellows at New Goshen, and of the Red Men at Clinton. He 
is a member of the Methodist church, in which he takes an active part, and in 
politics has never swerved from the stanch Democracy of his fathers. 

On November 2, 1894, Mr. Eller was married to Ida A. Battin, the 
daughter of Elijah and (Newkirk) Battin. She was born in south- 
ern Indiana, on November 3, 1875. To this marriage were born four chil- 
dren, Margaret, Maud, Wilma and Grace, all at home, and these four charm- 
ing daughters make their home a happy one for their parents and for each 
other. 



HENRY SHEW. 



Henry Shew was born in Wilkes county, North Carolina, November 14, 
1815, and died at his home south of Clinton. Vermillion county, Indiana, 
May 12, 1904, being eighty-eight years, five months, and twenty-eight days 
of age. He emigrated to this state when but a boy, over seventy years 
ago, and settled on the farm where he died. He was married to Irene 
Hedges July 2. 1840, who was born December 3. 1823. in Clinton township. 
Her parents were \\'illiam and Permelia Hedges, who came from New York 
and were among the first settlers of this country. She was the oldest of nine 
children. They established their home on a portion of the old Shew estate, 
about one-half mile south of Bethlehem church, tlie land having been pre- 
empted by his father, Daniel Shew. Here they spent their lives in content- 
ment, not alone enjoying the pleasures of the community, but making life 
pleasant for others as well by their kind and unselfish deeds. 

To this union were born five children, Lysander, Lester, Mrs. Lura Ann 
Hay, of Paoli, Kansas: Mrs. Direxa Pinson and Mrs. Allie Boatman. 

This family circle was not broken by death until March 8, 1900, when 
the youngest daughter, Allie. was called to her home beyond. Only a short 
period of four years elapsed when the father was called to his long rest. Now 
that Death had made his inroad into the circle, it was only another short 
period of three years when the mother was called to join those gone before. 
Her death occurred Monday, April 8. 1907. after an illness of only a few 
days with pneumonia. 



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PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 785 

With the departure of grandma and grandpa, the old home is left like 
the outgrown shell of life's unresting sea. Many are the friends who have 
missed their kind and loving words, but will always remember the beautiful 
life which they have left as a monument greater than any erected by mortal 
man. When contemplating the many happy reunions of relatives and friends 
at the old hiiniestead, how sad to ha\e to realize that its light has gone forexer. 



CLAY E. THOMAS. 



The people who constitute the bone and sinew of this country are not 
those who are unstable and unsettled; who fly from this occupation to that; 
who do not know how to \ote until they are told, and who take no active and 
intelligent interest in atfairs affecting schools, churches and property of the 
public. The family of which Clay E. Thomas, progressive farmer of Ver- 
million township, is a most worthy representative is one of the old and highly 
honored ones of \"ermiIlion county, who have been content to spend their 
lives in this locality, which they have seen develop from the wilderness to the 
high advancement which it claims today, and they have not only taken a lead- 
ing part in this work of progress, but they have lived honest and intelligent 
lives, lending their support to all measures looking to the general good. 

Mr. Thomas was born on the old Thomas homestead in this township 
and county on May 20, 1867. and he is a son of Jacob and Eliza (Bates) 
Thomas. The father was born in Vermillion county, on the same farm as 
was the subject, in 1838. The paternal grandfather of the subject was Eli 
Thomas, who was born in southern Indiana and who de\oted his life to 
farming, coming to this county in a very early day and here he died. The 
father, Jacob Thomas, spent his life here and followed farming, and here his 
death occurred in 1896, his wife ha\ing preceded him to the grave in Sep- 
tember, 1874. They were the parents of two children. Clay E., of this sketch, 
and Omar T., who died in early life. 

Ten children were born to grandfather Eli Thomas and wife, five of 
whom are still living, namely: Louise J., who married J. S. Lonberger; 
Jerome B. lives in Cayuga; Winfield P. lives in Newport; Wesley D.. a 
graduate of Wabash College, lives in Chicago; Harris P., also a graduate of 
Wabash, lives in Boston. 

The father of the subject was a Republican, and he served as trustee of 
Vennillion township and was also county commissioner for six years. Fra- 
ternallv, he was a member of the Masonic lodge at Newport. 
" (50) 



786 PARKE A\D \EKMILLIOX COUNTIES, IXDIAXA. 

Clay E. Thomas grew to manhood on the home farm and he received a 
common school education. In 1892 he was married to Alta Jones, who died 
in 1901. To this union one child was born, Lawrence D. Thomas. The sul:)- 
ject was married a second time; in 1903 he was united to Almedia Walthall, 
daughter of ^^'i!liam and Lydia ( Branson) \\"althall, old settlers of ^'er- 
million county, farmers in \'ermillion township, but thev are both now de- 
ceased. Two children were born to this second union, Edgar ^^". Thomas 
and Lewis \Villiam Thomas. 

Air. Thomas has always followed farming and he has been \"ery success- 
ful as a general farmer and stock raiser, being now the owner of a fine farm 
of two hundred and twenty-eight acres, well imjiroved and well cultivated. 
He raises graded hogs, feetls and sells cattle, and is regarded as an excellent 
judge of all kinds of li\"e stock. He has made all the modern improvements 
on his place himself, and he has a cozy home and substantial outbuildings. 
He belongs to the Friends church. His aunt, Mrs. Li>nberger, is a meml)er of 
the Eastern Star of Newport. Her husljand was a Mason. 



EDGAR R. HARRISON. 

One of the most progressive and energetic citizens of Clinton, Ver- 
million county, Indiana, is Edgar R. Harrison, who has long been connected 
with the J- Ix. Deering mines in that part of the country. He is one of the 
foremost men in his community, always interested in every movement that 
tends to bring Clinton to the front in business and social life. He has used 
his influence to bring about cleaner political methods in that district, and has 
always stood for the rights of the laboring classes. 

Mr. Harrison is the son of Clarence and Sopha r\\'eber) Harrison, 
who are both natives of Indiana. Clarence Harrison was born May 30, 
1834, and is still living. His wife was born in 1861 and died in 1893. His 
father worked in the mines for a while, and was afterwards a policeman in 
Clinton. He had five children, all of whom are still living. 

Edgar R. Harrison was born December 28, 1878, in Covington, Indiana, 
but the family left there when he was very young and came to Clinton, where 
Mr. Harrison spent his lioyhood and attended the common schools. He was 
married to June M. Johnston, who was a native of Illinois, born April 18, 
1884, and who received a common school education, supplemented by some 
special training. 

During 1896 and 1897 Mr. Harrison was interested in a bakery, but 



PARKI-: A.\l) VKKMII.MOX rOVXTIKS, TXDIAXA. jHj 

he soon found that his father's experience had a strong hold on his life and 
Ik- decided to become a miner, lie entered the mine> nf the |. i\. i )eerin_<^ 
.Mining C"om])any and worked \ery faithfully there until he heeauie huss of 
mine No. 2. He now is the boss of the J. K. Deering mine No. 5, having held 
this position since the first of Januar\- this year. Mr. Harrison and his wife 
have had six children, all of whom are at home. They are Raymond. Mar- 
garet, Dorothy, Esther, Arthur, Katherine and Louise. They all li\e on ilie 
home that their father owns near the mine where he is now occupied. 

Mr. Harrison belongs to Lodge No. 1199, Order of Owls, in Clinton. 
He has always been progressive in politics, voting for the best man. rather 
than being restricted to conservative party demands. He was councilman for 
a while and was very careful and just in his performance of his duties during 
this time. 

Mr. Harrison's thrift and activities in the public welfare have made him 
a substantial citizen, and he is also highly respected by his neighbors and 
friends. Though we do not always appreciate the fact, it is the workers in a 
community who are representative of that community, for it is the product 
of their own toil, and with this as a standard, Edgar R. Harrison may well 
stand as a standard bearer in the ranks of Vermillion countv. 



ISR.XEI. LAKF. 



The long, acti\e and unselfish life of Israel Lake, one nf the best 
known citizens of Hillsdale, X'ermillion c<iunl\. has been one of untold help- 
fulness, for he has been acti\e in the ministr_\- for a period otthirty-ti\e years, 
during which time he has won an abiding place in the hearts of the liosts of 
people whom he has addressed on behalf of the higher life, but, being a man 
of humanitarian impulses, he has not only led a life of usefulness by word, 
but also bv deed, and hundreds can attest who have been the recipients of his 
kindness. He is one of the best known and most highly esteemed men in this 
locality, being as familiar and as popular in I'arke. b'ountain and Warren 
counties, as he is in \'ermillion, numbering his friemls by the scores in all of 
them. 

Mr. Lake was born about four miles west of the village of Hillsdale, 
Vermillion county, Indiana, June 28. 1837. lie is a son of William and 
Margaret (Thompson) Lake, both natives of Indiana and both now deceased. 
They S])ent their li\es on a farm, and were honest. hos])itable and well liked 



788 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

by the pioneers among whom they resided. They became the parents of nine 
children, four of whom are still living. 

Israel Lake grew to manhood in his native communit}- and assisted with 
the general work on the home farm, and he has spent practically all of his life 
in his native county, which he has seen develop from a wilderness to one of 
the choice sections of the state, and in this development he has played no in- 
conspicuous role. Schools being few and of very inferior quality and the 
work of the farm hard and of a nature which could not spare him, young Lake 
had no chance to secure an education and he did not learn to write until he 
had entered the army, but this early lack of mental training was made up for 
later in life by home study and close observation. It was in 1861 that he 
enlisted in the Union army, in the Ninety-seventh Indiana Infantry, in which 
he served very faithfully for a period of three years, lacking three weeks, 
under David Shelby and Capt. James Jordan. Mr. Lake saw considerable 
hard service, participating in seventeen battles and several important cam- 
paigns. After an honorable discharge he returned home and some time after- 
wards took up home study with a view of entering the ministry of the Christ- 
ian church, and in due course of time he began preaching and continued active 
for a period of thirty-five years, during which he served many congregations 
and built up the work in many places, converting hundreds to a new life and 
doing an incalculable amount of good in many ways. He has always been 
popular with the people of this section of Indiana, and he is still active in 
church work, still preaching at Hillsdale. 

On November 12, 1908, Mr. Lake was united in marriage to Mary J. 
(Wilkins) Vinson, a daughter of Rev. Zephaniah Wilkins, who was also a 
minister. She has two daughters by her former marriage, namely : Anna 
E., who married John Lovelace, and Carrie, who married Frank Campbell. 

Mrs. Lake is also a minister in the Clnistian church and has been doing 
a most praiseworthy work for years. Like her husband, she took the home 
study course for the ministry prescribed by the conference of that denomina- 
tion. She is still active in church work and is regarded by her very wide 
circle of friends and acquaintances as a woman of rare personal attributes of 
head and heart. She owns a good home in Stone Bluff, Fountain county. 
which she rents. Mr. Lake owns a cozy dwelling in Hillsdale. 

Fraternally, Mr. Lake belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows at Montezuma. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
and politically is a Progressive. 

Mrs. Lake is a charter member of Rebekah Lodge No. 671, at Stone 
Bluff, Fountain countv, Indiana. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 789 

JOHN D. BURKS. 

One of the tirsi citizens of Parke county, who passed away during the 
early part of this century, was John D. Burks, for many years one of the 
most highly respected men in Howard township. He was a man whose un- 
questioned honesty and integrity made everyone trust him, and whose kindly 
nature and unprejudiced justice endeared him to all. 

John D. Burks was born May 12, 1845, '" Parke county, Indiana. His 
father was Silas Burks, a native of Kentucky. He died in Union township, 
Parke county, June 9, 1886. His mother still lives in Washington township. 
Silas Burks was a farmer, spending most of his life in Parke coimty. lie had 
ten children, four of whom are still li\ing. John D. Burks spent his early 
life on the farm in Parke county, attending the county schools, and working 
on the farm. 

On January 2, 1870, Mr, Burks married Mary S. Bruin, and they lived 
together on the farm in Howard township until his death, working side by 
side. She was born in Parke county, Indiana, July 17, 1854. Her father 
was Daniel Bruin, one of the first settlers at Guion. Indiana. She received a 
common school education. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Burks moved 
to the homestead in Howard township, w'here their three children were 
raised. Fountain L. and Laura M. Burks are dead. Only Nellie Ethel and 
her mother survive of the happy family. Nellie Ethel Burks was born Octo- 
ber 10, 1875. She married Harvey C. Moore in 1900. and they moved to 
Washington, D. C, where he was until recently engaged in the insurance 
business, especially promoting new insurance companies. He now makes his 
home in Chicago, still engaged in the insurance business. Mr. and Mrs. 
Moore have one little daughter, Marian. 

John D. Burks followed farming during his life. He was a general 
stock raiser and was very successful in his work. By bringing to bear on his 
farm a strong intellect and constant industry, he accumulated a great deal of 
property and improved it. When he died, on July 22, 1901, Mrs. Burks was 
left with two hundred and forty acres of fine tillable land, all of which is in 
Howard township, Parke county, Indiana. She was living in a splendid, 
modern home on the old home place, but in March, 1910, the house was de- 
stroyed bv fire. It is soon to be replaced by one equally as good. 
Her farm is one of the best equipped properties in the neighborhood. Besides 
manv other facilities she has a valuable large barn, which was completed 
about three years ago. She continues to manage the farm, carrying on gen- 
eral farming and stock raising. She was fortunate in being able to face the 



790 PARKK AX13 NER.MILLIO.V COt'XTIES, INDIANA. 

future bravely when the responsilDilities of the farm were left to her direc- 
tion. She loves farming and the management of it. She is thoroughly capa- 
ble, ambitious and has done well, raising fine cattle and hogs, corn and farm 
crops. She continues her work because she loves it, and is cheerful and opti- 
mistic. ]n case of shortage of hands to do her work she has shown that she 
can dri\e the mower or do other similar work if need be. She occasionally 
takes long trips for sight-seeing, having just returned from the Bermudas. 
Mr. Burks' interests were not limited to his farm, though he faithfully 
de\oted himself to his family and to it: he did a great deal to assist in the 
soh-ing of the (|uestions which his community had to face, and his advice and 
opinion were highly respected by his fellmv citizens. Mr. Burks was a Demo- 
crat throughout his life, and he belonged to the Presbyterian church. He 
was also a Mason at Wa\'eland, Indiana, and a member of the Knights of 
Pythias lodge of that jjlace. At his death the whole district felt a distinct loss 
in the man who was a kind and devoted husband and father, a successful 
tiller of the soil, and a reliable, sincere citizen. 



FRED WOOD. 



A man well known in the mining district of Parke and Vermillion count\' 
is Fred Wood, the present able and successful superintendent of the Lyford 
mine. He is a man who believes in doing his work well, and in order to do 
this he has been not only a close observer but has studied and kept abreast of 
the times in all that pertains to his line of endeavor. 

Mr. Wood was born July 15, 1872, in Vigo county, Indiana, and is a 
son of Dan and Jean (Edwards) Wood. The father followed farming in 
Vigo county, becoming very well established through his long years of in- 
dustry, and there he spent the rest of his life, being now deceased. He was 
born and reared in North Carolina, from which state he came to Vigo county. 
Indiana, when a young man and there established liis permanent home. His 
family consisted of six children, namely : Ed Mose, Hattie, Lillie, Mary is 
deceased ; Elias, and Fred, of this sketch. 

Fred Wood grew to manhood on the farm of his parents in ^'igo county 
and he assisted them on the homestead during his boyhood years. He re- 
ceived a common school education in his native community, and early in life 
he began following the mines and this he has continued ever since, in various 
positions, in all of which he has given his employers satisfaction. His first 
job was loading coal for a miner, for which he received fifty cents a day. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, IXDLVNA. 7gi 

He then went to "tripping," opening doors in a mine to keep air supplied to 
the men working below. He then drove a mule and was making a man's 
wages when he was but fourteen years old. He then went to mining and 
later got a position as boss driver, later became mine boss, and ex'entually 
became superintendent, which position he now holds, discharging his respon- 
sil)le duties in a most acceptable manner to his employers. 

Mr. Wood was married on August 30, 1891, to Rose Puett, daughter of 
Alec and Julia (Thomas) I'uett. Tlie Puett has l)ccn one of the hL---i known 
families in this locality since the pioneer days. To the subject and wife four 
children lia\e l)ccn born, naniel\- : I.enncx. liarrv, Ora and luhcl. The 
family is affiliated with the Christian church, Mrs. Wood being very active in 
church work. 



S. M. ROBBTNS. 



This representative and lionored citizen of Newport, Vermillion county, 
has l)ecn (lislincti\'el\' the architect of his own fortunes, lias l)ccn true and 
loyal in all the relations of life and stands as a type of that sterling manhood 
which ever commands respect and honor. He is a man who would have won 
his way in any locality where fate might have placed him, for he has sound 
judgment, coupled with great energy and business tact, together with upright 
principles, all of which make for success wherever and whenever they are 
rightly and persistently applied. By reason of these principles he has won 
and retained a host of friends throughout this locality. 

S. !\T. Robbins, well known liveryman and automobile agent at New- 
port. Indiana, was born in Rochester, this state, on December i, 1864. He is 
a son of .Andrew and Mary (Wilson) Robliins. The father dexoted his life 
to farming, and he came to Vermillion township, Vermillion cotmty, in 1880, 
and here spent the rest of his life, being now deceased. The mother of the 
subject passed awav in 1891. They were the parents of eight children, seven 
of whom are still living. 

S. M. Robbins grew to manhood on the home farm and received his edu- 
cation in the common schools. He began life for himself by farming on the 
home i^lacc. which he followed for five years, during which he got a good 
start, then took up the barber business, and followed that with nnich success 
for a period of twenty years at Newport and surrounding towns. He then 
went back to farming, but in 1910 he turned his attention to the automoliile 
business, which he has continued to follow with marked success, handling the 
well known and late models of the Ford, .Auburn and Hupp automobiles. He 



792 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

has placed a very large number of these famous cars all o\er this sectiun of 
the state. He also carries on a general livery business, for which he is ex- 
ceptionally well equipped. 

Mr. Robbins was married in 1892 to Alice Davidson, daughter of David 
C. and Abbie (Porter) Davidson. This union has been without issue. Her 
father and grandfather were among the earliest settlers of Vermillion countw 
Politically, Mr. Robbins is a Prohibitionist, but he has never been an aspirant 
for public ofifice. 



CHARLES HOSFORD. 

That "man lives not to himself alone" is an assurance that is amplv xxri- 
fied in all the affairs of life, but its pertinence is the more patent in those in- 
stances where persons have so employed their inherent talents, so improved 
their opportunities and so marshaled their forces as to gain prestige, which 
finds its angle of influence ever broadening in practical beneficence and human 
helpfulness. He whose productive activities are directed along legitimate 
and normal lines is by very virtue of that fact exerting a force which con- 
serves human progress and prosperity, and the man of capacity for business 
affairs of importance finds himself an involuntary steward upon whom de- 
volve large responsibilities. To the extent that he appreciates these duties 
and responsibilities and proves faithful in his stewardship does he also con- 
tribute to the well being of the w-orld in w-hich he moves. Charles Hosford, 
the popular and able postmaster at the town of Cayuga, Vermillion county, 
Indiana, like his honored father before him, is a man who "does things" and 
this accomplishment is altogether worthy in all the lines in which he directs 
his energies. As a man of ability, sturdy integrity and usefulness, and as a 
citizen representative of the utmost loyalty, he merits consideration by his 
fellow men and his life record is deserving of a place in this publication, 
which touches those who have given to and sustained the civic and material 
prosperity and precedence of this locality. 

Charles Hosford was born in Eugene township, Vermillion county, In- 
diana, August 4, 1874, and he is a son of Monroe G. and Sarah C. (Simpson) 
Hosford, and a grandson of Philo Hosford. the paternal grandfather having 
come to this county from his native state of New York as earlv as 1832 and 
here established the permanent home of the family and was an influential 
man among the early settlers. He was born in 181 1 and died at Eugene in 
1895. His wife, who was born in 1816. died in 1882. Monroe G. Hosford, 
father of the subject, grew to manhood and was educated at Eugene. He 



PARKE AND NKRMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 793 

began life lor himself as clerk in a local store, which he continued for thir- 
teen years, or until 1876, when he began in the mercantile business for him- 
self, then turned his attention to milling and was burned out in 1883, but, 
nothing daunted, he built in 1884 the mill at Cayuga and this he has con- 
tinued to operate to the present time, owning an elevator in connection with it, 
and is very successful and widely known in this business. He and Sarah C. 
Simpson were married in 1873 and they have three children: Charles, of this 
review : Daisy, and Lenore, wife of Herbert S. Johnston, of the Cayuga 
Milling Company. 

Charles Hosfnrd grew to manhood and was educated in Eugene and 
Cayuga. He was deputy county treasurer under bis father from 1900 to 
1904, then engaged in the real estate and insurance business with Shell J. 
James in Cayuga, later conducting a business in these lines alone. On July 2, 
1 91 2, he was appointed postmaster at Cayuga and is still discharging the 
duties of the same with satisfaction to all concerned. He formed a partner- 
ship about that time with Milton W. Coffin in the real estate and insurance 
business. He has been very successful in a business way. Politically, he is a 
stanch Republican, and he is a Mason. 

Mr. Hosford was married on October 5, 191 1. to Etta L. Kern, daugh- 
ter of John A. Kern, of Ridge Farm, Illinois, and this union has resulted in 
the birth of one child, Monroe John Hosford. 



JAMES D. JAMES. 

There are among the residents of the mining district of VeiTnillion 
county, many who have come from Wales and it has been noticed that they 
are without excejstion people of thrift, capability and law-abiding, men who 
do well whatever they turn their attention to and who are among our most 
efficient miners, no matter what position they are given. Such an element 
is always welcome anywhere in America. Among this number is James D. 
James, boss of one of the famous Crown Hill mines in Clinton -township. 
He was born in the southern part of Wales, March 30. 1858, and is a son of 
William and Jane James, both of whom spent their earlier years in Wales, 
where the father was born. He finally emigrated to the United States, land- 
ing at New York City, but soon thereafter came to Coal Creek. Indiana, 
where he followed mining, also worked at the mines, later at Crib Creek, after 
which he came to Clinton. Vermillion county. Indiana, working in the mines 
here for some time. After leaving Clinton he went to Terre Haute, where 



794 PARKE A.\U \ERMn,r.rilX C'OUXTIES, IXDIAXA. 

his death occurred at the age of seventy-five years, in the year 1912. His 
widow is still living. They became the parents of thirteen children, namely : 
James D., of this sketch, the eldest: William is deceased: Ann, who married 
William Edwards, lives in Clinton: David, Mary and John are all deceased: 
Lizzie : Edith was next in order of birth ; Maggie is deceased ; Mary Jane. 
Katherine and Martha all survive: Edres is deceased. 

James D. James was young in years when he took up his residence in 
America. He first located at Coal Creek, Indiana, then went to Grape Creek. 
Illinois, later to Clinton, Indiana, in 1895. He has been actively engaged in 
and about the mines since eleven years of age, and has become familiar with 
all the phases of the mining industr}'. He has been mine boss since 1903. 
when Crown Hill Mine No. 2 was sunk, and he still has charge of the same, 
his long retention in this important position being sufficient evidence of his 
high grade and eminently satisfactory services. This mine is owned bv the 
Clinton Coal Company, and has a capacity of eleven hundred and eighty tons 
daily. Its depth is one hundred and fifty feet. He is responsible for every- 
thing about the mine, men included, and he keeps everything in superb work- 
ing order. 

Eraternally, Mr. James belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, Knights of Pvthias and the Owls. He has remained unmarried. 



ALBERT L. CLARK. 



The beginning of the career of Albert L. Clark, well known liveryman 
of Newport, Vermillion county, was characterized by hard work and con- 
scientious endeavor, and he owes his rise to no train of fortunate incidents or 
fortuitous circumstances. It has been the reward of mental qualifications of 
a high order in the affairs of business, the combining with accurate percep- 
tions of mental activity that enabled him to grasp the opportunities that pre- 
sented themselves. This he has done with success, and, what is of more im- 
portance, with honor. His integrity has ever been unassailable, and he stands 
high with all who know him. 

Mr. Clark was born at Bedford, Lawrence county, Indiana, December 
4, 1872. He is a son of Stephen F. and Anna (Lanning) Clark, natives of 
Bedford and Salem, Indiana, respectively. The father removed to Ver- 
million county, Indiana, in 1880, locating in Eugene township, and here he 
has since followed general farming, renting and operating, with his son. 
Albert L.. about eight hundred acres of land. He has farmed and raised live 



I'AKKi-: AM) \i:R.\in.i.i().\ ((hxi'iks, ixdiaxa. jg^ 

stock on a large scale and has met with large success. His family consists of 
the following children: Albert L., subject of this review ;' Isaac Newton, 
who lives in Chicago, is chief inspector for the Interchangeable Mileage Bur- 
eau; Ida M. married W. D. Green, a brick manufacturer of Segaiiie. Texas; 
Leroy is a school teacher: Clarence is farniiii!; at Imnie. 

Albert L. Clark was educated at Bloomington, Indiana. He came to 
the \'illa,i.;e nf luigent', \'crmillii)ii cumiU'. in icSSd. and licre he clerked for 
G. L. Watson from 1891 until 1900, giving him the utmost satisfaction, as 
might be inferred from his long retention, for he was quick to learn and was 
courteous and considerate to the patrons. In 1900 Mr. Clark purchased the 
livery business at Cayuga, which he has continued to conduct to the present 
time with ever-increasing success, and he is well known to the traveling pub- 
lic. He is well e(|ui])ped in e\ery rcs|iect for the successful carrying on of the 
same, keeping an excellent grade of horses, good buggies, etc. He also 
operates a dray and transfer line here, and is well patronized. 

Mr. Clark has taken an interest in public affairs and was elected trus- 
tee of Eugene township in 1908 and has discharged the duties of that office 
in a manner that reflects credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all 
concerned. 

Mr. Clark was married on December 24, 1896, to Martha J. lies, daugh- 
ter of T. P>. lies, of Eugene, and to this union two children lia\-e been l")orn. 
namely : Eucy, born in T899. and Susie, born in 1904. 

Politically. Mr. Clark is a Democrat and is active in the ranks. Era- 
ternallv. he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows. 

Mr. Clark has been very successful in a financial way and besides his 
extensi\e livery and transfer business he is the owner of twenty acres of land 
in which there is a valuable coal deposit. 



CHAREES FREMONT MILLER. 

A leading farmer and public spirited citizen of Halt township, Vermillion 
county, is Charles Fremont Miller, a descendant of one of the sterling pioneer 
families of this section of the Ploosier state. Here he has spent his life and 
has so directed his course as to gain not only material success, but the good 
will of all who know him and has at the same time been of much assistance 
to the upbuilding of the community. 

Mr. Miller was born a mile northwest of St. Bernice, Helt townsliip. 



796 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Vermillion county, Indiana, July 8, 1857, and is a son of Jacob and Phoebe 
A. (Halt) Miller. The father was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, 
and from that state moved with his parents, Jacob and Barbara (Freed) 
IMiller, to Kentucky. Jacob Miller, Sr., went to Wisconsin, locating near 
Monroe in a very early day and there he spent the rest of his life, dying at 
the advanced age of ninety years. Grandfather Daniel Helt was a soldier 
in the war of 1812, under Colonel Puntney. He was one of the very early 
settlers on Helt Prairie. Vermillion county, the prairie and township having 
been named for him. The Helt family has been one of the best known in 
this county from the days of its first settlement to the present. Daniel Helt 
married Polly Teehom, who has seven children, and eight more children were 
born to her by her union with Mr. Helt, the mother of the subject of this 
sketch being the eldest by the second marriage. Although rearing that large 
family and working hard as pioneer women did, she lived to reach the great 
age of ninety-four years. Daniel Helt died at the age of eighty-six years. 
The mother of the subject died in Vermillion county at the age of eighty- 
three years, at the old Helt homestead, where the family was reared. All that 
large family grew to manhood and womanhood. There were eight children 
in the family of the subject's father, Jacob Miller, Jr., namely; Indiana, 
who died when twenty-three years old. had married L. A. Bullington. and 
they had one child, Delia, who is living in Portland, Oregon : Mary Jane, who 
died at the age of twenty-three years: Daniel H.. who lives in Helt township: 
Sylvester lives in Helt township: Bloomer lives in Centralia, Illinois; Charles 
Fremont, of this review : Emma, who married Henry Harris, a merchant in 
Illinois : Jacob, Jr., of Lawton, Oklahoma. Both the Miller and Helt families 
are of German descent, their progenitors having settled in Pennsylvania in a 
very early day. 

Charles F. Miller grew to manhood on the home farm and there he 
assisted with the general work when a boy, receiving his education in the 
common schools, then took to trading in live stock and farming, and has 
continued in these lines of endeavor to the present time, with ever-increasing 
success. He is now the owner of one of the choice farms of Helt township, 
consisting of four hundred acres, well improved and under a high state of 
cultivation, and here he has long carried on general farming and stock raising 
on an extensive scale. He has a pleasant home and large, convenient out- 
buildings, ever^'thing about his place denoting that a gentleman of thrift and 
good management has its management in hand. He has given each of his 
children over a thousand dollars. 

Mr. Miller was married in 1896 to Sarah A. Reed, daughter of David A. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 797 

and Nancy M. (Wishard) Reed. The father was a native of South Carolina, 
from which state he came to Vermillion county, Indiana, in a very early day 
and here became well established through his industry. Three children have 
been born to the subject and wife, namely : The first, an infant, died unnamed; 
Frank R. and Daniel T. The latter is a practicing physician at Terre Haute. 
He was graduated from the Universit}' of Indiana and the Indiana Medical 
College at Indianapolis, later taking the course at the old Jefferson Medical 
College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is making a great success as a 
general practitioner. The other son, Frank R. Miller, was graduated fmm 
the common schools and the high school at Clinton. Indiana, also from the 
Indiana University Law School, and is practicing his jirofession with marked 
success in Clinton, ranking among the leading young lawyers of the county 
In the campaign of 1912 he was a candidate on the Progressive ticket for 
attorney-general of Indiana, and he made a brilliant race. 

The wife of Charles F. Miller was called to her eternal reward on June 
4, 1907, at the age of fifty years, her birth having occurred on December 22, 
1867. 

Politically, Mr. Miller is a Progressive, but he has never been a seeker 
after office, though he was appointed by Judge Aikman on the tax equalization 
board, but refused to serve. Religiously, he is a Methodist Protestant. 



WILLIAM N. TUCKER. 

Among the young men of Vermillion county who have appreciated pres- 
ent-day opportunities, and one who has profited by his ingenuity and persist- 
ence in the world's affairs as a result of the favorable conditions existing in 
this favored section of the Hoosier commonwealth, is William N. Tucker, 
one of the well known and highly efficient engineers of the mining district of 
Clinton townshiii. and. judging from his pronounced success in the past in 
his chosen field of endeavor, we can but predict a large measure of success for 
the future. 

Mr. Tucker was born in Champaign coimty. Illinois, December 5. 1884. 
He is a son of John E. and Emily (Blair) Tucker, the father a native of 
Illinois, where he grew to manhood and was educated in the common schools, 
then took up fanning, in which vocation he is still active. His wife was called 
to her eternal rest on December 23. 1906. Seven children were born to John 
E. Tucker and wife, namely: Margaret, Nancy, Jerry M., Walter. Rose. 
Stephen and William N., the subject, who was the youngest of the family. 



jgi^ PARKE AXU \"ERMILLIO.\ COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

William N. Tucker grew to manhood on the home farm in Illinois ami 
there assisted with the general work about the place during the summer 
months, and in the winter time he attended the public schools in his neighbor- 
hood. Early in life he began following the mines and paid especial attention 
to the machinery end of this field of endeavor, with the result that he has 
become an expert'in engineering and has held many responsible positions at 
various mines, and is at this writing engineer and foreman of Ed Shirkee 
j\line No. 2. the duties of which he is discharging in a manner that is entirely 
acceptable to his employer. He is responsible for all the hoisting apparatus, 
the curbing in the shaft, in fact, everything both top and bottom, and keeps 
all machinery in repair. As foreman, he is boss of both top and bottom, 
both of the machinery and shaft. He understands everything about the mine, 
having had much previous experience, including" that of track boss at Davton. 
Ohio, and Terre Haute, Indiana, and held a number of good, responsible 
positions at various places. 

Mr. Tucker has never married. 



RALPH V. HUGHES. 



Success in this life comes to the deserving. It is an axiom demon- 
strated by all human experience that a man gets out of this life what he puts 
into it. plus a reasonalile interest on tlie in\-estiiient. TJic indi\-idual who 
inherits a large estate and adds nothing to his fortune cannot be called a suc- 
cessful man. He that falls heir to a large fortune and increases its value is 
successful in proportion to the amount he adds to his possession. But the 
man who starts in the world unaided and by sheer force of will, controlled by 
correct principles, forges ahead and at length reaches a sphere of honor among 
his fellow citizens achieves success such as re]iresentati\'es of the two 
former classes can neither understand nor appreciate. To a considerable 
extent Ralph Y. Hughes, of Newport. A'erniillion county, is a creditalile rep- 
resentative of the last named class, a member of that sterling type which has 
furnished much of the bone and sinew of the country and added to the sta- 
bility of our institutions. 

Mr, Hughes was born in Vermillion county, Indiana, September 13, 
1887, and he is a son nf John A. and .\nna fMerriman') Hughes. The father 
was born in Eugene township, this county, June i. 1864. The paternal 
grandparents, John and Sophia f Bishop) Hughes, were natives of Ken- 
tucky and Ohio, respectively. They came to Vermillion county in an early 



I'AUKF. AM) \|-.i;MIl.I.!OX COVyT^VS, IMM.WA. jqf) 

day ami Inllowcil farming, becoming well known among the earlv settlers. 
John A. lluL^lies was reared and eilucaled in this nninty, anrl earlv in lite 
took up farming here, which he has continued. Fourteen years were de- 
voted to the management of the county poor farm, which he operated with 
much success ;uid sati^^ Taction io all concerned. Fn'e and 'wni A'errinian were 
married on June 14, 1884. She is a daughter of Jonathan Merriman. To 
John A. Hughes and wife were born the following children: Beatrice, Ralph 
\'.. and Jolm Clyde, who died in infancx'. The father is a member of the 
Methodist church. He is a Republican and was county treasurer from 1906 
to 1910. filling the office with much satisfaction to all concerned. Fraternally, 
he is a Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern \\''ood- 
men of America. He is the owner of one hundred and lwcnt\- acres of well 
improved and productive land. 

Ralph \\ Hughes grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated 
in the common schools of his neighborhood, and he followed farming for 
some time upon starting in life for himself. From 1907 to 1910 he was eni- 
plo\ed in the county treasurer's office, .\fter this he engaged in the grocery 
business for six months with Martin Hollingsworth, then entered the Citi- 
zens State Bank at Newport as cashier, which position he has since held to the 
satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons of the bank, being known as a 
courteous, obliging and strictly honest gentleman who merits the respect of 
all. Some time ago, in partnership with H. T. Payne, he purchased the New- 
port ]Iill riarage from S. M. Robbins, and this he still owns. 

Mr. Hughes is a member of the Methodist churcli. Politically, he is a 
l\ei)ul)lican. and i'^ ]ironiineni in fraterna' circles, lu'iu'r a member of the .M;i- 
sonic order, the Knights of Pythias, Order of the Eastern Star, Pythian 
Sisters, Royal Neighbors and Modem Woodmen of America. 



GEORGE E. DICKENSON. 

In any community, the nian who is ready to accept new ideas that will 
hel|) him and his neighbors, the man who looks the question of the common 
good of himself and his neighbors, politically, socially and in a ])usiness wav, 
straight in the face, and whose judgment is not biased by prejudice and 
slander, is the man who is responsible for the progress of the community. 
If it were not for him the world would stand still. There are a number of 
such men in Vermillion count}", Indiana, and George E. Dickenson, of Clinton, 
Indiana, holds a prominent position in their ranks. 



800 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

Mr. Dickenson was born on a farm in Fountain county, Indiana, Febru- 

ar\- tS, 1882, snii lit Jiif and Fiimia Dickenson. His fatlier was a native of 
Pennsylvania, where he was born in the early part of the nineteenth century. 
He received an ordinary education in that state, and moved west, where he 
was occupied as an engineer. He married Emma Williamson, a native of 
Fountain county. Indiana, and they lived in this state for many years. Mr. 
Williamson died in Danville, Illinois, March 24, 1910, and his wife still lives 
in Clinton, Indiana. They had five children, three of whom are still living. 
Joe Williams is well remembered as a veteran of the Civil war, as one of those 
men who left their homes and families in the cause of the Union in 1864 and 
sacrificed some of the best years of their lives on the altar of the nation. His 
record of those days will be cherished by his descendants for many genera- 
tions. 

George E. Dickenson lived the early part of his life on the farm, receiv- 
ing a common school education, which has been liberally supplemented by 
experience and reading. He was married July 24, 1905, to Bessie M. Peck, 
who was born .August 24, 1883. From his youth Mr. Dickenson has been 
interested in coal mines, and in 1902 he became an engineer at Crown Hill 
mine No. 2, where he is still working. He is very much interested in progress 
in his work and is a member of the United Mine Workers of America. His 
ideas are progressive along all lines and he is an ardent upholder of the new 
political party, ^^•hich is the work of men such as Mr. Dickenson. 

Mr. Dickenson has two boys, Donald and Ralph, and by training them 
with the new thoughts to which he has been so receptive himself he will for- 
ward his service to his communitv and his countrv. 



BENJAMIN O. CARPENTER. 

One of the well known business men of Perr\-sville, Vermillion county, 
Indiana, is Benjamin O. Carpenter, widely known for many years as pro- 
prietor of the local mills, a man who seems to possess just a sufficient amount 
of modesty to be a gentleman at all times and yet sufficient persistency to 
win in the business world and at the same time not appear over bold. .\s a 
result of these strong and happily blended qualities. Mr. Carpenter has not 
only met with a large measure of material success, but has won a host of 
friends throughout the localitv of which this history treats, being well known 
to all as a man of influence, integrit^r and business ability and as a gallant 
veteran of the world's greatest war, during which he did w^hat he could toward 
the perpetuity of the Union. 



I'AKKIC A.\L) NliR.MII.LlOX COIXTI KS, INDIANA. Soi 

Mr. Carpenter was born in Tippecanoe county. Indiana, on September 
12, 1842, and is a son of John and Ellen (Euel) Carpenter. The father was 
born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1808, and his death occurred in Deccnihcr. 
]868. The mother was born in Ohio and her death occurred in Indiana abuui 
1843. John Carpenter followed farming in his earlier years, but later owned 
and operated a mill in Warren county. He took a deep interest in politics 
and was one of the first to ally himself with the Republican party in 1856 
and encourage its organization. His family consisted of seven children, five 
of whom are still living. 

Benjamin O. Carpenter received a good public school education. On 
January t,\. 1867, he n^arried Mary Davidson, who was Iiorn on June 3. 1848. 
in Vermillion county, Indiana, at Perrysville, and here she grew to woman- 
liooil and rc-ceixed a conininn scIiddI education. She was a daughter ni Dr. 
Fanton and Mary (Lacy) Davidson, a well known family of Perrysv ille in a 
past generation, Mr. Davidson being now deceased. To the subject and wife 
two children have been born : Bertha is deceased ; Carl is married and is 
engaged in the telephone business in Perrysville, and at this writing he is 
serving as township trustee. 

Benjamin O. Carpenter first began life for himself as a farmer, later 
turned his attention to the milling business in Perrysville, and this has since 
been his vocation. He now owns the Perrysville Flouring Mills, which turn 
out from two to four barrels of flour an hour, and, owing to the superior 
quality of the output, it finds a ver\' ready market all over the countr\-. lie 
has been very successful in the milling business and is one of the best known 
mill men in this section of the state. Besides his mill property, he owns a 
large and pleasant home in Perrysville. Politically, he is a Democrat. , lie 
belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is treasurer and a 
steward — in fact, has long been one of the main pillars of the local congrega- 
tion. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order at Perrysville. 

Mr. Carpenter enlisted in 1862 in Warren county, in Company D, 
Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Louis Stephens, and 
he saw much hard service, participating in many of the great battles of the 
war. including Stone's River, Chickamauga, Missionary' Ridge, and those 
incident to the Atlanta campaign, in which he engaged for one hundred and 
twenty days, being in almost a continuous skirmish and battle. He then went 
to Lovejoy Station, where there was a fight, then was sent to Xashville. 
Tennessee, and was in the battle there, after which he did not see much 
service, having been mustered out at Nashville on June 6, 1865, and honorably 
discharged, after which he returned home and resumed milling. 

(50 



802 PAKKE A.Xl) \ER.\1 ILI.IOX COl'XTIES, IXIIIAXA. 

THOMAS GREGORY. 

Among the chief assets of the self-made man is the broad and thor(ni!jh 
knowledge he has of every detail of his business and his familiarity with the 
point of view of those who work for him, for, as a rule, the self-made man 
lias started at the lowest rinm- of the ladder in his j, articular lir.e ot business 
and climbed steadily upward through efficiency in ever}' department. Thomas 
Gregory has in this way learned the business of mining, and the high position 
he now holds in that industry in Vermillion county, Indiana, has been won 
through his persistence and industry. 

^^ermillion county cannot, however, claim this man as a native. He w as 
born in Lancashire. England. May 9, 1855, the son of William and Sarah 
(Derbyshire) Gregory. William Gregory was born March 11. 180 j;. in 
Lancashire. England, and his wife was also a native of that country, dying 
there before her husband and son came to the United States. For the last 
twenty-eight years of his life \A'il]iam Gregory lived in ^''ermillion count\-, 
Indiana. His occupation during his whole life, both in England and in this 
country, was that of a miner and mine manager, and he was very successful 
in his work. He had eleven children, three of whom are still living. The 
boyhood of Thomas Gregorv was spent in England, and from the age of ten 
years he was attracted to the mines, bis highest ambition being to work in 
them and accomplish some of the enormous tasks which he \\ itnessed in child- 
ish awe. As soon as he was old enough and had com]ileted his common 
school education, his father allowed him to take some of the minor positions 
in the mines, and from that time on his progress in this work was steady. Tn 
1875 he came to this country for the first time, and later came here perma- 
nently, settling in Vj^o county, Indiana, where he lived for thirty-one years, 
up to November, iqit, when he took up the work in A'ermillion county. 

Tannar\- i. 1875. Mr. (iregorx- was married tn Ellen Howarth. who 
also was a natixe of England, being born in that country in 1854. They 
have had eleven children, nine of whom are still living: Mary married Mr. 
Garwood, a mine boss near llunsen : Samuel is dead: Sarah married ^Ir. 
Steward, of Shellville. Indiana, and they live in that place: Isabell married 
Mr. Tanner: James is attending ^^^^bash College, and spends his vacations in 
the mines at Bunsen : William Gregory' died ; Eleanor is single ; Elizabeth is 
living at home: Betty is dead, and John and Nina are living at home. 

Mr. Gregory is a member of the Knights of P\i:hias. the Improved Order 
of Red Men and the Order of the Owls, and is connected with the Travelers' 



PARKK AM) \'I:RMIM.I(>\ CorXTIES, I . MM AN A. 803 

Protective Association. In all his activities Mr. (iregory has alwavs stond 
for the highest integrit\- and worked for the greatest good for the largest 
number. He is a member of the Episcopal church, and has been a Rei)ul)lican 
since he has been in this country. He has jirogressed steadily in his work. 
doing all the duties of every task carefully, and he has held every jjosition 
in the mine from the bottom up. He is now superintendent uf the l'ni\ersal 
Bunsen Coal Company mines. He has thrived and now owns two pieces 
of property in Yigo county where he is highly thought of and respected as 
one of the best citizens and best informed miners in this part of the country. 



DAVID W. GRIFFITHS. 

.Many of the commendable traits characteristic of the sturd\- Welsh 
])eople are noticeable in Da\id W. CriiYiths. one of the efllcient mine ])osses of 
Clinton township, Vermillion county, and it has been through those traits of 
thrift, perseverance, fortitude and adherence to right principle that has caused 
him to win in his battle with the world. lie has never had the habit of 
depending on someone else to do either his [planning or his work, and when 
he had a given task to perform he took uj) the same with alacrity and care- 
fulness. be!ie\"ing in tlie old adage that whatever is wurtli doing at all is 
worth doing well. He is also a man of integrity and always reliable. 

Mr. CirifTiths was born in the southern part of Wales. October lo. 1866, 
the son of John and Alary (Evans) Griffiths, both of whom were natives of 
Wales where they grew u)), were married and spent their li\-es. never coming 
to America, and tbe\' l)oth died in theii' nati\e land. ThcN' were hard wurk- 
ing honest people. 

David W. Griffiths grew to manhood in Wales .md there receixed bis 
education, and. belie\ing that better opjiortunities existed for him in the 
I'nited States than in his own country, or anywhere in the British Isles or the 
Continent, he set sail for our shores in 1883. when twenty-seven years of 
age, landing in New York City. Soon thereafter he came on to Danville, 
Illinois, where he took up mining, later going from there to Sulli\-an county. 
Indiana, thence to Clinton. \'ermillion county, and here he has since remained, 
following the mines, in which line of endeavor he has become an exjiert and 
is at this writing mine boss of Crown Hill No. 4. which mine has a de])th of 
two hundred and seventy-four feet and a capacity of seven hundred tons of 
coal dailx'. This nu'ne is run entirely with electricity, having three motors, 
not a single mule being used about the mine. It is one of the best and oper- 



804 PARKK AXn \ESMILI.I()X COL-XTIES. IXDIA.XA. 

ated in the most up-to-date manner of any mine in tiiis locality. The sub- 
ject's position is a very responsible one. He has charge of evervthing and is 
responsible for whatever is under the ground — machinery, men and equip- 
ment of all kinds. But he has everything under a superb svstem and nn 
trouble is experienced, for he understands perfectly every phase of the mining 
business, and gives the utmost satisfaction to his emplovers. 

Mr. Griffiths was married in 1887 to Maggie James, daughter of William 
and Jane James, and to this union seven children have been born, named as 
follows : Annie, who married John Wilson, of Clinton, this county : Jennie, 
Lizzie, Margie, John, Martha and Blodmen. The younger children are all at 
home. Fraternally, Mr. Griffiths is a member of the Improved Order of 
Red Men, and religiously he belongs to the Christian church. 



GEORGE L. FINNEGAN. 

Although George L. Finnegan has only been in Vermillion county a few 
years, he has made himself necessary to the community and is popular with 
his friends and neighbors. He has in his blood a Celtic strain which has 
enabled him to look at life with a half humorous, half serious attitude, and 
take all that comes to him in an optimistic and sensible way. This character- 
istic, together with his determination and his amiable way of dealing with 
his fellowmen, have given him a place of responsibility in the mines in Yer- 
million county. 

Mr. Finnegan is the son of Patrick and Adilia (Mogan) Finnegan. His 
father was born in 1840 in West Virginia, and died in May, 1885. His 
mother was born in 1844 in Ireland. She came to this country at the age of 
eleven years, and she died on November 11, 1884. Both Patrick and Adilia 
Finnegan had a common school education. George L. Finnegan was bom 
December 20. 1878. near Urichsville, Ohio. As sonn as he finished his edu- 
cation in the common schools he went to Virginia, taking a position in the 
dry goods store of his uncle in Wheeling. He was not satisfied with that 
work and went to work in a printing office, where he stayed about a year. 
After this he became an apprentice with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 
Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania. From there Mr. Finnegan went to Scottdale. 
Pennsylvania, where he took a position with the Frick Coke Company. 

On the 6th of September, 1905, Mr. Finnegan married Anna Belle Brow. 
who was born April 9. 1884, in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, where she spent her 
girlhood days and received a common school education. They have had no 



I'AKKI'. AND \'1';K.M li.l.lliX COT N I 1 i;s, IMHAXA. 805 

children. After his marriage. Mr. Finnegan worked for several companies 
in Pittsburgh, chief of which was the Pittsburgh Locomotive Works. In 
1910 he came to Illinois with the Bunsen Coal Company, with whom he had 
become identified, and troni tliere it was tlic natural thing- tn come to \'er- 
million county, Indiana, where this company is largely interested. He came 
to Clinton in April, 191 1, as master mechanic with the Bunsen Coal Company, 
and is ])roving himself to l)e a \ahial)le man to the comi)an\'. Mr. Finnegan 
is an Elk at Scottdale. Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Catholic church, 
and is Republican in his political convictions. He is a man of broad experi- 
ence, and is so bright, intelligent and energetic that he is a great addition to 
the mining industry in Vermillion county. Indiana. 



JUDGE A. GARWOOD. 

One of the energetic young mine workers of Vermillion county who has 
been very successful in his work in the mines near Clinton, Indiana, is Judge 
A. Garwood. Great benefits for the whole state of Indiana are derived from 
these coal fields in Vermillion county, and they not only supply a large part 
of the state with this very essential product of nature, but bring to this part 
of the country the best miners in the United States. We have many examples 
of this, especially in those mines tiiat are controlled b_\- the liunsen Coniiiany. 
and it is with this concern that Judge A. Garwood is connected. 

Mr. Garwood is the son of Judge Levy and Milly (Grawl) Garwood, 
natives of Indiana. His father was born in the early part of the nineteenth 
century, and died January 7, 1873, his mother dying the same year. Both his 
father and mother had a common school education, his mother being a school 
teacher for a number of years. They had three children, all of whom are 
still living. Judge A. Garwood was born October 26. 1873, in Blackford 
county, Indiana. His parents both dying that year, the boy had to overcome 
many things when he was young that most children do not have to contend 
with. He received a common school education and married al the age of 
twenty-two on January 16, 1895. His wife was Mary Gregory, who was 
born in England on June 9. T876. They have had seven children, namely: 
Nellie Gregory, deceased: William. Ninabelle. Thomas Lee. Judge. Xonnan 
and Eubert are at home. 

Judge A. Garwood, as a boy. became interested in farming and as soon 
as he finished school he turned his attention to agriculture as his life work. 
Later, however, his attention was attracted to mining, and he gave up his farm 



8o6 PARKE AXD \ERM U.I.IOX CCII'XTIES. IXDIAXA. 

and went to work in the mines in Fixmtain county. Indiana. For three \ears 
he was a street car motornian, and then he came to \^erminion and in 191 1 
he went to work with the Bunsen Company. 

Mr. Garwood has been actively interested in the affairs of Clinton since 
he has lived there. He is a good, reliable citizen and has gained the highe.st 
respect of his friends and neighbors. He is a Redman at Bunsen and a 
member of the United Mine Workers of America. He is an industrious 
man and of the saving rather than the extra\-agant and careless tvpe. ludge 
A. Garwood owns a home in Terre Haute. Indiana. Init has not vet invested 
in pri)perty in Clinic m. Indiana. Any conimunit\' should w elcrnne sucli a 
resident and Mr. (Garwood has indeed proved himself worthv of esteem. 



CHARLES -M. LOWLOR. 

Among the successful miners in Vermillion county, near Clinton. Indi- 
ana, is Charles M. Lowlor. who is a nati\e of Indiana, and was attracted to 
this part of the state Ijy the coal fields of the vicinity. He is now one of the 
most prominent citizens of Clinton, and is a man of influence both in the 
mines, with his fellow-workmen and among his neighbors and friends. He 
has taken an acti\-e part in the great machine wliich is giving the whole state 
the benefit of the coal, and his efforts ha\-e met with reward. 

The subject's father was E. M. Lowlor. who was born December 22. 
1847, ill Indiana, and is still living, his residence also being in Clinton. His 
mother was Marguerite ( Fulwilder) Lowlor. who also was a nati\-e of Indi- 
ana. l)eing burn near l\(,ck\"ille. -She died Se])tember 6. 1891. E. M. Lowlor 
has been a blacksmith nearly all his life and is very well known in his com- 
munity. He had four children, three of whom are still li\ing. 

Charles 'SI. Lowlnr was born October 12, 1870. near Rnckx ille. Indiana. 
He spent his \-outh around the forge and helped his father a great deal in his 
work, .\fter finishing the common schools. Charles M. Lowlor turned his 
attention entirely to the trade of a blacksmith for a while. In 1896. on the 
Sth of July, he married Emma M. Hall, who was ])orn l"el)ruar}- 7, 1877. near 
Co\'ington. Fountain count}-. Indiana. She had a common school education. 
Charles M. and Emma .M. Lowlor are the parents of si.x children, all of whom 
are living at home. The first child was Law rence. and then came Levy. Lola. 
James, Louise and Clyde. 

At the age of twenty-one Mr. Lowlor left his father's forge and started 
out for himself in the blacksmith business. He was dissatisfied with this 



I'ARKl-; WD XI'-.KMILI.IOX COL' XTIKS, INDIANA. Hoj 

work, however, and in 1903 lie determined to take up mining". He got a 
splendid start, being made top boss at mine No. 16 with the Brouillet"s Creek 
Coal Company, and he found the work ver}- much to his liking and was suc- 
cessful in his position. Later he came to Clinton, Indiana, with the Oak Hill 
Coal Company, and soon went to work for the Ed. Shirkie & Bogle Mine 
Company as top boss, and now holds this position. 

Mr. I.owlor is a member of the Methodist Episcoi)al church and is active 
in the work, especially where his influence may be of value. He is a Demo- 
crat and a loyal upholder of the principles of his party. It is such men as 
Mr. Lowlor, honest, industrious, conscientious and progressive citizens, who 
form the main strength of this country, and, though not accumpanied by the 
flare of torchlight and the beating of drums, it is the work of these men that 
counts in the end. 



DR. FLOYD MORTON KEARNS. 

One of the most promising veterinary surgeons of Vermillion county is 
Dr. Floyd Morton Kearns, of West St. Bernice. He is yet young in years, 
but he has proven that he has a great natural ability in his chosen held of 
endeavor and that he has very carefully and thoroughly prepared himself for 
his vocation. He has not been practicing long, but he has had most encourag- 
ing success and has already gained the confidence of the iieople of this .section 
of the county, and a most successful future is freely predicted for him. 
Added to his skill and acute knowledge of the horse, is a genial and obliging 
manner and honesty of purpose, which ha\e made him pojiular with thi^se 
with whom he comes in contact. 

Dr. Kearns was born on March j'), i8(/). in \'crmilIion county. Indiana. 
and he is a son of Grant and Rose ( Richard) Kearns. The father was born 
on December 7. 1867, in Harrison county, Missouri, and tlie mother of the 
subject was born in X'ermillion county. Indiana, on February 17, i8f)(). They 
each received common school educations. They arc living in West St. 
Bernice. being very comfortalily estaljlished. the eliler Kearns being cnga.ged 
in farming. They are the parents of tw(j children. 

Dr. Kearns was reared in his native community and there he recei\ed a 
good education in the public schools. Later he went to Chicago and took a 
full course in the Chicago Veterinary College, where he made a splendid 
record and from which institution he was graduated with the class of 191 i. 
He soon returned to \'ermillion county and opened an office for ])raclice at 



8o8 PARKE AND \'ERM I I.LIOX COfXTIES, IXDIAXA. 

the village of West St. Bernice. in the spring of that year. He has no compe- 
tition nearer than Dana, and therefore has an excellent field and has gotten a 
most encouraging start. He has been \ery successful with all cases. In con- 
nection with his father, he owns a well cipiipped and modernly appointed 
veterinary office and li\-ery barn, and the_\- are well prepared to accommodate 
the general public and ha\e a good trade, which is constantly growing. They 
are also owners of a productive and valuable farm of eighty-two acres at Hills- 
dale, nearly all under cultivation. 

Fraternally, Dr. Kearns belongs to the .Masonic order at Dana, and the 
Woodmen at that place. He has remained unmarried. 



HARRY J. RICH.\RDS. 

One of the deserving young men of A'ermillion county who has won suc- 
cess solely because he has worked persistently for it is Harry J. Richards, one 
of the most expert machinists of this locality and who is now general fore- 
man of the round house at West Clinton, where he is popular with his em- 
ployers and the men, owing to his high grade work, his conscientious manage- 
ment and his genial personal characteristics. 

Mr. Richards was l)orn on August 9, 1884. at Bedford, Indiana, the son 
of G. A. and Louise (Evans) Richards. The subject's paternal grandfather 
was a native of Pennsylvania. G. A. Richards was born in Terre Haute, 
Indiana. His wife, Louise Evans, also a native of this state, died on May 
6, 1909. They were both educated in the common schools, and thev were 
the parents of se\en children, five of whom are still li\ing. G. .\. Ricliards 
took up railroading when a young man and he made this line of endeavor 
his principal life work. For many }-ears he was superintendent of bridge 
construction and was regarded as a most expert bridge man. He is nu\v 
living retired. 

Harry J. Richards received a common school education and on June 2^, 
1912. was married to Frances Welch, who was born October 7, 1887, in Terre 
Haute, Indiana. She is a daughter of T. J. ^\'elch. 

Harry J. Richards began learning the machinist's trade when Init a boy, 
and this has been his life vocation. He began as low as fifty cents a day, his 
first experiences being gained at Bedford. Indiana. After finishing his ap- 
prenticeship he traveled extensively through the Western states as railroad 
machinist, returning to Indiana in 1908 and locating in Terre Haute, where 
he began work as a machinist. He was subse(iuently promoted to the position 



TAUKK A.NU VEKM ILl.ION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 809 

of round house foreman, from there he was transferred to Bedford as assist- 
ant general foreman of the Bedford shoi)s, and from there lie was sent to 
Clinton in Oetober, 191 1, where he is still stationed, ,e;iving eminent satis- 
faction to all concerned as general foreman of the round house in West Clinton 
where he has e\erything under a superb system and all running like a Swiss 
clock. Thirteen engines can be housed here. He has been with the Clinton. 
Terre Haute & Southeastern railroad since he came to Clinton. 

Politically, Mr. Richards is a Republican and, fraternally, he belongs to 
Lodge No. 824, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Bedford. 



HOLBERT DAVIS. 



We of the present generation do not fully realize what it meant for the 
young men of half a century ago, with life's bright promises before them, to 
leave business, the comforts of home and the pleasures of associations with 
family and friends and go out to do or die in the world's greatest war, in 
which the\- suffered indescribably, at times, "in order that the nation might 
live." But the\', our honored sires, did it. giadl}' and well, and today no man 
should be the recipient of greater esteem by us than the old veteran, who wore 
the blue. One such was Holbert Davis, a successful farmer of ITnion town- 
ship. Parke county. 

Mr. Davis was born on September 23, 1841, in the abo\e named town- 
ship and county on the farm on which he still lives, it having been his great 
privilege to spend his life on the old homestead. He is a son of Samuel and 
Barbara (Miller) Davis. The father was born ou .May 20, 1800, in Butler 
countv, Ohio, where he si)ent his early manhood years, being twenty-five years 
old when, in 1825, he removed to Indiana and here s|)ent the rest of his life, 
dying on December 27. 1879, at an advanced age. The mother of the subject 
was torn in Ohio also, and her death occurred in i84_^, Samuel I )a\is re- 
ceived a good education and he took an inlluenlial interest in ])olitical matters, 
and in 1850 he was a member of the constitutional convention. lie was a 
tanner by trade and also operated a farm. His famil\- was excei)tionally 
large, consisting of fifteen children, seven of whom are still living. He was 
twice married. 

Holbert Davis received a good common school education and he grew 
to manhood on the home farm. On August 25. 1864. he was united in mar- 
riage to Sarah Beachamp. who was born on August 6. 1844. in Adams town- 
ship, Parke county, and there grew to womanhood and received a public 



8lO PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

school education. She is a daughter of Eli and Frances ( Crooks) Beachamp. 
Three daughters have been born to this union, namely : Laura E.. born Febru- 
ary 28, 1867. is living at home; Ida. born November 11, 1868, married Perry 
Mitchell and they live on a farm in Union township, Parke county : Barbara, 
born on June 18, 1875, married W'alter B. Stark, and thev also li\e on a farm 
in Union township. 

Mr. Davis has always been a farmer and stock raiser and has been very 
successful, being now the owner of a splendidly improved farm of one hun- 
dred and three acres, all in Union to\\nsliip. about sixt\-nine acres being till- 
able, the rest in timber land. ]\Ir. Davis made all the impro\ements on his 
place, and he has a good farm and a comfortable home. 

On July 29, 1862, Mr. Davis enlisted in the Se\ent\-eighth Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Humphries. He served in only one battle, 
which lasted about two hours. He was pamled and sent hoiue. and was dis- 
charged in September, 1862. 

Mr. Davis belongs to the United Brethren church, in which he is a 
trustee. Politically, he is a Republican. 



WILLIAM JOHNSTON, JR. 

One of the young men of Parke count\' who is rapidly winning his way 
to success in the mining fields of this locality is William Johnston, Jr., who is 
very ably discharging the duties of pit boss with the Mecca Coal Company. 
He knew from the first that success in future \ears depends on how well he 
did his work as a beginner, whether or not he learned the basic principles 
thoroughly, and also whether he conducted himself as a gentleman in the 
truest sense of the word. With these things in view, he has forged ahead 
steadily. 

Mr. Johnston was born on February 8. 1882, in Greene county. Ohio, 
and he is a son of William J., Sr.. and Elizabeth { Darrah) Johnston. The 
father was born in Ireland, in which country he grew to manhood, and there 
was married, his wife having also l)een a native of the Emerald Isle. They 
emigrated to the LTnited States soon after their marriage, and took up their 
home in Clay county. Indiana, later removing to Parke county. The father 
has always worked about the mines. He is still living, making his home in 
the village of Mecca, this county, but the mother was called to her eternal rest 
on July 3, 1909. They became the parents of five children, three of whom 
are still living. 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 8ll 

-Mr. Johnston, of tliis review, recei\ed a common school e(kication. On 
January 21, 1901. he was united in marriage to Rena M. Andrews, who was 
born in l'ari<e county, Indiana, here i;rew to wonianiioud and rcccix'cd her 
education in the public schools. She is a daughter of Ira and Hannah 
(Mewling) Andrews. To this union two children have been Ijorn, namely: 
William O., who is in school, and Mary R. 

Mr. Johnston has alwaxs worked ahmU the mines, stalling lirst li\' dig- 
ging with his father, and worked up step by step until, on November 16, 191 1, 
he became pit boss with the Mecca Coal Company of Parke county, and he 
has since discharged the duties of this responsible position in a manner that 
has been entirely acceptable to all concerned. Fraternally, he is a meml)er 
of the Knights of Pythias at Mecca and, politically, he is a Republican. He 
is a young man of good habits and stands well with all who know him. 



GEORGE W. GRIFFIN. 

Reared to the free and healthful life of a husbandman and trained from 
boyhood in the various phases of that \ocation. George W. (iriffin. of the 
vicinity of Clinton, Indiana, has never cared for other lines of endea\or and 
so he has succeeded at this, for the jierson of contemplatixe mind will agree 
that the young man who decides early what his life work is to be and adheres 
persistently to one thing will be much more likely to succeed than if he cast 
about from one thing to another, .seeking "'something more suitable." 

Mr. (iritfin was born in 1857 in the state of Iowa, but his parents brought 
him to {'"lorida townshi]). Parke county. Indiana, when he was but a child 
and here he was reared to manhood on the home farm on which he worked 
when a boy, and he received his education in the public schools of that town- 
ship. He is a son of Hiram and Lucy Anna (Evans) (irittin. Hiram Griftin 
was reared also in Morida townshi]), this county, ami he de\oted his life to 
general farming, mostly in this county, though he spent some years in the 
state of Iowa, later returning here. 

Six children were born to Hiram (iriltin and wife, fom- of whom are 
Ii\ing, namely: George \\'., of this review ; Mrs. (iertrude Barnes, Mart and 
Fred. The parents of the above named chihlren are Iwth deceased. 

George \V. Griffin was economical when a \oung man and was thus 
enabled to buy his present farm when only twcnty-tuo year-^ of a,ge. later 
adding to his original purchase, making necessary im])ro\emenls all the while 
until today he has a productive, well improved and \aluable farm of ninetx' 



8l2 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

acres on the Huxford gravel road, about four miles east of the citv of Clin- 
ton. He has laid by a competency as the years have advanced and when 
old age arrives he will be able to take life easier. He has a pleasant home in 
the midst of attractive surroundings. 

Mr. Griffin has been twice married, first to Margaret Huxford, who is 
deceased, and he was subsequently married to Minerva Dvson. He is the 
father of four children, namely: Charles is at home; Mabel married Ir\in 
Johnson; Elbert and Cecil. Mr. Griffin and family belong to the Christian 
church and are active in all church afifairs. 



J. GILBERT GRIFFIN. 

The valuable farm of J. Gilbert Griffin, which consists of one hundred 
and eight acres, well impro\-ed and under an excellent state of cultivation, 
presents to the spectator many aspects of a pleasing nature, for everything is 
always found to be in proper place and well kept; no careless methods here, 
everything being under a superb system. Mr. Griffin is therefore deserving 
to rank among the most progressive of our agriculturists. 

The birth of Mr. Griffin occurred on December 28, 1879, on the old 
Griffin home place, he being a son of George and Margaret (Huxford) Griffin. 
The father came to Parke county, Indiana, \\hen a child and was reared to 
manhood in Florida township and educated in the public schools here, and 
here he devoted his life successfully to general farming. He had but the rme 
child, J. Gilbert, of this sketch. 

J. Gilbert Griffin grew to manhood in his native communit\-, assisting his 
father with the work about the home place when he was a boy, and he received 
his education in the common schools. In his early career he spent one year 
in the town of Newport, Parke count}-, where he engaged in merchandising. 

On September 5, 1904, Mr. Griffin was married to ]\Iilbrey Johnson, 
daughter of John and Amanda (Cloyd) Johnson. Her father came from 
near Atherton, Vigo county, Indiana, and later in life went West and be- 
came a prospector. Returning to this comitry, he became the owner of a 
fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, part of which was in Parke and 
part in \'igo county. His family consisted of seven; children, namely: 
Sarah and Cora are both deceased; Milbrey, wife of Mr. Griffin; Luna, 
Emeline, Marshall and Carlie are all deceased. 

Mr. Griffin carries on general farming and stock raising, always keep- 
ing an excellent grade of live stock, which he prepares for the market from 



PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. S13 

year to year and no small part of his income has been derived from this 
source. He has a good dwelling, well located on the east side of the Hux- 
ford gravel road, due east of the city of Clinton. 

Fraternally, Mr. Griffin belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and in 
religious matters he is a member of the Cliristian church. 



DICK AIILLER. 



The true measure uf success is deternuncd by what one has accomplished, 
and, as taken in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not with- 
out honor sa\e in his own countrx', there is a particular interest attached to 
the career of Dick Aliller, wbu, while yet young in years, won a brilliant 
reputation in western Indiana as a lawyer and politician, and who at tliis 
writing is a successful business man of Indianapolis. He is a nali\e sou of 
Parke county, where his earlier years were spent and where his famil\' has 
long been well known and influential. He has so directed his ahilit}- and 
efforts as to gain recognition as one of the most representative citizens and 
worth\- native suns the \icinit\' of whicii this volume deals has yet produced. 
and. judging from his past commendable success in various lines of endeavor, 
the future must hold for him much of good and promise and his career is 
worthy of careful consideration Ijy the young man who is hesitating at the 
parting of the ways, for it shows wliat one with grit.])erse\'erance. fortitude 
and liigh ideals can accomplish, although in the face of oljstacles, if onc"s 
ambition is worthy and properly directed. 

Mr. Miller was born on January 12, 1871. in the southern part of Parke 
county, Indiana. He is a son of James N. and Sarah ( Snow) Miller. The 
father' w'as born in 1827, and he became a prominent citizen in this locality. 
Further mention is made of him on other pages of this work. 

Dick Miller grew to maniiood in his native county and received his 
primary education in the common schools, later attended the graded schools, 
then entered the Bloomingdale Academy, from which he was graduated. He 
then entered the State Cniversitv at Bloomington and was graduated from 
there with the class of 1894. He Iiad for some time been studying law, and 
upon leaving the University he entered the Indiana Law School at Indian- 
apolis, from which he was graduated in i8()6, having made a splendid record 
for scholarship in all the above named institutions. He returned to Parke 
county and entered politics, making the race for the Legislature, lower house, 
on tlie Democratic ticket and was elected in the fall of 1896, ha\ing the dis- 



8l4 PARKE AXD \ERMILLIO\ COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

tinctiuii of bein.ti tlie only Democrat that e\er rejiresented this county, with 
one exception, about eight}- \'ears ago, when O. Puett ser\ed in that capacitw 
The subject made an excellent record in the Legislature, winning the hearty 
approval of all concerned, irrespective of i)arty alignment. In 1897 he moved 
to Terre Haute and began the practice of law, and he met with a large meas- 
ure of success, remaining there until 1900, when he made the race for state 
senator, but was defeated by only three votes. In 1901 he came to Indian- 
apolis and began the business of a bond salesman, and soon had a nice busi- 
ness built up. In January, 1907, he engaged in buying and selling bonds 
on his own account and is still thus engaged, at X"o. 21, Xorth Pennsxdvania 
street, also buying and selling securities under the name of ]\liller & Com- 
pan\-. He has now a very extensive and lucrative business. 

Mr. Miller has a beautiful home in Indianapolis, presided over with 
grace and dignit\' by a lady known in her maidenhood as Catharine Trimble, 
to whom Mr. Miller was united in marriage on June 2H. 1906. She is a 
nati\e. of Hamilton county, Indiana, the representati\e of an excellent family 
there. The union of the subject and wife has been \\ithout issue. 

Fraternall}-, Mr. Miller belongs to the Knights of Pythias in Indian- 
apolis, also the Masonic order there, embracing the Scottish Rite and the 
Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the M\stic Shrine. He is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, and politically is an uncompromising Demo- 
crat and has long been acti\e in the ranks. Personally, he is a genial, obliging 
and genteel gentleman, whom it is a pleasure to meet. 



M. V. KESSLER. 



M. V, Kessler, a farmer of the vicinity of Rosedale, Parke count}-, is 
a son of Simeon and Eliza ( Rairdon ) Kessler. The father was born in Penn- 
sylvania, from which state he came to Ohio when young with his parents and 
was reared near Cincinnati. He was about thirty-five years old when he 
came to Indiana, ha\-ing l)een educated in the Buckeye state. He first located 
in Henry count\-. later coming to \'igo count}-, about seven years after he 
first came to this state, and he and his wife spent practically all of the balance 
of their lives in Vigo county. 

M, V. Kessler, of this review, grew to n-ianhood in \'igo county, and 
there received his education in the common schools. In early life he learned 
the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for ten years, building houses all 
over the country. After he had worked for some time at his trade, he pur- 
chased some timlier and had it made into lard barrel staves, which cleared him 
eight dollars a day. Thus getting a start, he turned his attention to con- 



PARKI': AXD VEUMILLION COUNTIES, 1X1)1 ANA. Si 5 

tracting and followed that for a period of ten years. .\ numl)er of years 
ago he purchased one hundred and si.xty acres, his first land, which he rented, 
later adding to his original purchase and subse(|uently took u]) farming, 
which he has continued, for the nmst part, to the present time, adding to his 
holdings from tinie to time until he is now the owner of a good farm in Farke 
county, lying about twelve miles from Rockville. In connection with general 
and mixed farming, lie raises various grades of live stock. 

After engagin.g in farming for a number of years, j\lr. Kessler saw an 
opportunity to engage in the timber business, and he accordingl}- launched 
out in the same in the \'azoo delta, ^[ississi]5])i. and this has claimed much of 
his attention for some time. 



IRA NEWLIN. 



The early pioneers of Parke and \'ermillion counties have about all 
"crossed the great divide.'" Year 1»\- year their numbers have continued to 
dinn'nish. until of the hundreds who settled here in the first ([uarter of the 
nineteenth centur\- onl}- a few of them remain. There are, liowe\er, man\' 
men and women now living in these counties, who, though coming here in 
what might be termed the second period after the early band of homeseekers 
from the East cast their lots here, have borne well their parts in making this 
a prosperous region. Then there are the children of the first settlers, who 
have spent their lives here. The two last classes named are no less worthy 
of i^raise in the ])art they bore in the laljors and privations of this early 
period than are their progenitors and ])redecessors. One of the oldest of the 
native sons of Parke county, one of the l>est known and one of the most use- 
ful, is the venerable farmer and for forty \ears minister — Ira Newlin, of 
Penn township, a man whose life has been so noble, clean and upright, as 
well as charitable, unselfish and helpful that now, in the December of his 
years, he is held in the highest esteem by all who know him and, looking back- 
ward, he has no regrets for misdeeds, and, looking forward, has nothing to 
fear. He has lived to see the growth of this localit)' from a ])rimeval forest 
to one of tile choice a.gricultural sections of the state and has taken an active 
part in the material, civic and moral advancement of the same. Nearly four 
score vears spent in this vicinity has witnessed remarkable changes and he 
talks mo.st interestingly of the early days. 

Mr. Newlin was born in Penn township, l^arke county. Indiana, July 
23, 1833. He is the son of Jacob and Sarah (Woody) Newlin, l>oth natives 
of North Carolina, in which state they spent their earlier years, growing to 
maturity there. From the old Tar state they emigrated overland, crossing 



8l6 PARKE AND VERMILLION COUNTIES, INDIANA. 

the rugged Blue Ridge mountains and fording dangerous unbridged streams, 
finally reaching Parke county, Indiana. This was in 1S23 or 1824, and here 
they began life in typical pioneer' fashion, establishing a log cabin in the dense 
woods, cleared a space for a garden and a little corn, and as time went on 
they had a good farm under cultivation and a good home established in Penn 
township and here thev remained, reared their family and passed on to their 
eternal rest, the father at the early age of forty-six years and the mother 
when eighty-six years of age, having survived her husband a number of dec- 
ades, they were both worthy members of the FFriends church, and they 
spent their lives on the farm. They became the parents of seven children, 
four sons and three daughters, Ira. of this sketch, being the fourth in order 
of birth. 

As before intimated, Ira Newlin has always resided in Penn township. 
Parke county, having grown to manhood here amid pioneer conditions, and 
he received such schooling as the old-time schools of that early period 
afforded. He assisted his father to improve the home place, and his life has 
been spent in connection with general farming which he has made a success 
and is now one of the substantial men of his community. In connection with 
farming and stock raising, he has spent about forty years of his life m 
preaching in the Friends church, doing a great amount of good in the local 
congregation, doing much to strengthen it and aiding his people in many 
ways, all of which has been duly appreciated. 

Mr. Newlin was first married in his native township, in 1855. to Mary 
W. Woodward, a native of Reserve township. Parke county, Indiana. Her 
death occurred in the fall of 1898. To this marriage four children were torn. 
all of whom are now deceased. Mr. Xewlin was later married to Mary J. 
(Breed) Cook, a native of New Hampshire, where she spent her earlier 
years. She was eight years old when she accompanied her parents from New 
England to Parke county, Indiana, and here she grew to womanhood and was 
edu'cated. She is the daughter of Daniel and Ruth Breed. By her first mar- 
riage, with Mahlin Cook, she became the mother of two children. Claude 

and Charles Cook. 

Mr. Newlin has always taken an active part in educational affairs and 
Penn township is indebted to him for its present excellent educational sys- 
tem, he being known as a public-spirited and valuable citizen in every re- 
spect. In the fall of 1908 he was elected trustee of Penn township on 
the Prohibition ticket and sei-ved his community in this capacity in a most 
able and conscientious manner. He has long been an active worker in the 
cause of prohibition, and has also been an influential worker in the Friends 
church since early life. 



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